BENGALURU
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Lieutenant Colonel Deepak Kumar Sharma and Vinod Kumar, officers posted in the Department of Defence Production of the Ministry of Defence, on charges of corruption, officials said.
Deepak Kumar Sharma has been arrested on charges of accepting a bribe of Rs 3 lakh from a Bengaluru-based company. CBI officials, who conducted a search operation at Sharma’s Delhi residence on Saturday, said they seized Rs 2.23 crore in cash.
Deepak Kumar Sharma was working as Assistant Project Officer (International Cooperation and Exports) in the Department of Production, Ministry of Defence. His wife, Colonel Kajal Bali, is an officer in the 16th Infantry Regiment in Sriganganagar, Rajasthan. The CBI has registered a case against both of them.
Sharma was accused of accepting bribes to facilitate private company officials in other transactions, including the production and export of defense products. Following this, a case was registered against Sharma and his wife, Colonel Kajal Bali, CBI officials informed.
Bribery through illegal means: The CBI had gathered information about Sharma accepting bribes from a Bengaluru-based company. Sharma was in constant touch with Rajiv Yadav and Ravjit Singh, who were looking after the affairs of this company. Along with them, he used to receive bribes from various government departments and ministries through illegal means. On the instructions of this company, Vinod Kumar had given Rs 3 lakh to Sharma on December 18, the CBI said in a statement.
In addition to the Rs 3 lakh bribe received, CBI officials seized Rs 2.23 crore in cash during searches conducted at premises belonging to Sharma. In addition, Rs 10 lakh belonging to his wife was seized, the CBI said in a statement.
