The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Narender Singh Rawat, a senior research officer at the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹1 lakh from a cable operator in Himachal Pradesh.
Rawat is accused of demanding the bribe to favor a cable operator licensed by the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements in Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh. According to officials, he also sought payments on behalf of five other operators in the state to avoid recommending the cancellation of their licenses.
Under TRAI guidelines, cable operators must submit quarterly performance reports, which Rawat was responsible for reviewing. Allegedly, he used this authority to solicit bribes, threatening unfavorable assessments for those who did not comply.
Following a complaint, the CBI conducted a preliminary investigation and set a trap. Rawat was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe at his Delhi office.
The CBI also carried out searches at Rawat’s residential and official premises in Greater Noida and New Delhi, gathering further evidence.
This arrest highlights ongoing efforts by the CBI to combat corruption and ensure transparency in regulatory practices. The case remains under investigation.
