New Delhi: Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma of the Defence Ministry, arrested by the CBI for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3 lakh, had reportedly entered into a criminal conspiracy with two individuals working for a Dubai-based logistics company to secure clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs for a consignment bound for the UAE, according to the CBI FIR.
The details were made public on Sunday after search operations concluded, resulting in the recovery of over Rs 2.36 crore in cash from Sharma’s premises.
The FIR states that Sharma, posted as Deputy Planning Officer, International Cooperation and Exports in the sensitive Department of Defence Production, had been under investigation for "habitually indulging in corrupt and illegal activities in criminal conspiracy with representatives of various private companies dealing in defence products manufacturing and exports," taking bribes in exchange for undue favours.
The CBI’s probe has brought the Dubai-based logistics company DP World under scrutiny. Two India-based representatives of the company, Rajiv Yadav (listed as Director) and Ravjit Singh, who manage its operations in Bengaluru, were allegedly in regular contact with Sharma to secure various undue favours from government departments and ministries.
The FIR alleges that in October, Yadav and Singh conspired with Sharma to arrange approvals from the Ministry of External Affairs for a consignment bound for Dubai. "Sharma, using his connections and influence, got the approval issued in respect of the said consignment relating to DP World," the FIR claims.
The payment of the bribe was first scheduled on December 8 at Sharma’s Naraina Vihar residence but did not materialise. A second attempt occurred on December 18, when Vinod Kumar delivered Rs 3 lakh to Sharma at his residence on behalf of Yadav and another individual, Madhu.
The following day, the CBI registered a case and raided the residences of Sharma in Delhi and of his wife, Col. Kajal Bali, CO of the 16th Infantry Division Ordnance Unit at Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, as well as other locations in Bengaluru, Jammu, and elsewhere.
The FIR names Sharma, Rajiv Yadav, Ravjit Singh, Vinod Kumar, Madhu, Col. Kajal Bali, and DP World through its directors/representatives under Section 61(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, citing criminal conspiracy.
During the searches, authorities recovered the bribe of Rs 3 lakh, Rs 2.23 crore in cash from Sharma’s Delhi residence, and Rs 10 lakh from Col. Bali’s house in Sri Ganganagar, along with other incriminating material, the CBI spokesperson said.
Both Sharma and Vinod Kumar, arrested in connection with the case, remain in CBI custody until December 23.
With PTI inputs