CBI Apprehends Two FCI Officials in Chandausi in Bribery Sting Operation
In a significant anti-corruption action, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday took into custody two officials of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) stationed in Chandausi. The arrests were made following allegations that the officials demanded and accepted illicit payments from a private contractor in exchange for clearing rice stock deposits.
Identification of the Accused and Case Registration
The individuals apprehended have been identified as Sunil Tyagi, who served as the manager of the FCI depot in Chandausi, and Ashok Kumar, who held the position of assistant grade-II and was the depot in-charge at the same facility. According to an official CBI statement dated February 11, 2026, the agency initiated a case based on a formal complaint lodged by the proprietor of a private firm. This firm is engaged in the business of supplying rice to various FCI depots across the region.
Details of the Alleged Bribery Demand
The complainant detailed that he had visited the FCI Babrala depot to deposit a consignment of 16 stacks of rice, with plans to deposit an additional eight stacks subsequently. During this process, the depot in-charge, Ashok Kumar, allegedly demanded an illegal gratification of ₹50,000 for clearing the initial 16 stacks. Furthermore, he purportedly sought an additional ₹15,000 per stack for approving the remaining eight stacks, escalating the total bribe demand significantly.
CBI's Trap Operation and Arrest
Acting promptly on the complaint, the CBI conducted a verification of the allegations, which confirmed the corrupt practices. Subsequently, the agency orchestrated a meticulous trap operation. Investigators discovered that the bribe demand was allegedly orchestrated by the depot in-charge in conspiracy with the FCI depot manager, Sunil Tyagi. In a decisive move, the CBI team caught both accused officials red-handed as they demanded and accepted ₹30,000 from the complainant. This amount represented the first instalment of the total bribe sum.
CBI officials have confirmed that the apprehension occurred during the trap proceedings. The agency is now delving deeper into the investigation to uncover the full extent of the alleged corruption and to determine if any additional individuals are involved in this scheme.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
The accused officials are currently in custody, and the CBI is expected to produce them before the competent court after completing all necessary legal formalities. This case highlights ongoing efforts to combat corruption within public sector undertakings, particularly in critical areas like food supply chain management.
