CBI arrests Munitions India Executive Director Anil Kumar and two others in an alleged bribery case, with searches yielding Rs 2.23 crore in cash. (Images: X)
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a senior executive of defence public sector undertaking Munitions India Limited and two other accused in an alleged bribery case. The agency has also recovered approximately Rs 2.23 crore in cash during searches linked to the investigation. According to a CBI statement issued on Wednesday, the arrested individuals include Munitions India Limited Executive Director Anil Kumar, SMPP Ltd CEO and Director/Promoter Ashish Kansal, and B. Harshavardhan, Anil Kumar’s brother.
The arrests were made on Tuesday. The case centres on allegations that illegal payments were sought and accepted in exchange for official favours involving private contractors and vendors. The allegations are under investigation, and the accused have not been convicted.
CBI registered the case on October 12 over allegations involving Anil Kumar, who was serving as Executive Director at Munitions India Limited in Pune. According to the agency, the public servant allegedly entered into a criminal arrangement with certain private contractors and vendors to demand and accept illegal gratification in return for official favours.
Investigators are examining the alleged links between the public servant and private entities, including how the payments were allegedly sought and whether they were connected to official decisions.
Searches at premises linked to Anil Kumar in Pune resulted in the recovery of Rs 1.73 crore in cash, the CBI said. The agency subsequently searched locations associated with the accused in Mysuru, Bengaluru and Delhi. These operations led to the recovery of approximately Rs 50 lakh more, along with documents described as incriminating by investigators.
The total cash recovered during the searches stands at around Rs 2.23 crore. The documents seized are expected to form part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged bribery network.
The arrests involve a senior official of a defence-sector public undertaking, a private defence company executive and a family member of the government official. CBI is investigating the alleged relationship between the accused and private contractors or vendors, along with the circumstances in which illegal gratification was allegedly demanded and accepted.
The agency has indicated that its investigation is continuing and that further evidence may emerge as investigators examine the seized cash and documents.
Munitions India Limited is a defence public sector undertaking engaged in the manufacturing of ammunition and explosives. The case has brought scrutiny to alleged corruption involving official dealings in the defence manufacturing sector. CBI is continuing its investigation to establish the full extent of the alleged arrangement and identify any additional evidence or individuals linked to the case.
