A Delhi court has directed the framing of corruption and criminal conspiracy charges against two Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), for allegedly compromising investigations in exchange for extraneous pecuniary consideration. The order was passed by Special Judge Atul Krishna Agrawal on Saturday, as reported by news agency PTI. The court also discharged a CBI inspector and a private company, citing insufficient evidence and noting that the allegations against the inspector amounted to suspicion but not grave suspicion.
Details of the Case
According to the CBI, DSP R K Rishi, Inspector Kapil Dhanked, and Selection Grade-II (SG-II) official Samir Kumar Singh conspired with two private individuals and others to compromise the integrity of investigations in several cases for monetary benefits. The agency filed a chargesheet against Rishi, Dhanked, Singh, and M/s Frost International Ltd under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act.
Court Observations
The court noted that while one of the prime allegations was the acceptance of bribes by Rishi from different persons and distribution among Dhanked and Singh for unlawful favors, there was no witness to support this claim. The judge also pointed out that no recovery of alleged bribe money had been made from any of the accused, making the prosecution's case quite weak on that aspect. Furthermore, the court rejected the alleged confessional statements of Dhanked and Singh, holding that they carried no evidentiary value.
Allegations Against Singh
Regarding Singh, the court observed that he allegedly helped the DSP by providing confidential information related to matters pending investigation before the CBI, in return for illegal gratification. Among the entities whose information was allegedly shared was Frost International Ltd. The court noted that Singh's bank account reflected cash deposits of more than Rs 4 lakh within a short period in April 2019, along with additional deposits of around Rs 1.5 lakh in November that year. The judge stated, "Hence, it is for accused three to explain the source of the cash received and deposited by him since public servants are invariably not permitted to deal in cash transactions in excess of Rs 20,000 or make cash deposits and the said practice is discouraged." The court concluded that there was sufficient material to frame charges against Singh for criminal conspiracy and theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master under IPC sections 120 B and 381, as well as under the Prevention of Corruption Act, as he allegedly accessed confidential documents without approval, amounting to theft of information.
Charges Against Rishi
Similar charges were ordered to be framed against Rishi.
Discharge of Dhanked and Frost International
However, the court discharged Inspector Dhanked, stating there was no money trail linking him to the allegations and that the case against him bordered on suspicion but not grave suspicion to frame charges. Frost International Ltd was also discharged, as the allegations against the company were based only on assumptions, presumptions, and the inadmissible confessional statement of Dhanked.
