The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested an Army officer in the Defense Production Department, Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma and Vinod Kumar in a case of alleged bribery and criminal conspiracy involving defence-related checks and favours.
The CBI alleged that Sharma was in touch with the company’s Dubai-based representatives, including Rajiv Yadav and Ravjit Singh, who are based in Bengaluru.
According to the CBI, on December 18, 2025, Vinod Kumar gave a bribe of Rs. 3 lakh to Sharma on behalf of the company. Searches at Sharma’s Delhi residence and his wife’s Sri Ganganagar residence resulted in the seizure of substantial cash, including Rs. 2.23 crore and Rs. 10 million, or
The Delhi office is still being searched
The agency conducted searches at several locations, including Delhi, Sri Ganganagar, Bengaluru and Jammu. His offices in New Delhi are still being searched.
Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma and Vinod Kumar were arrested on December 20, Saturday following a case registered on December 19, 2025, ANI reported citing sources.
What are the charges against the military officer?
The two accused are said to have acted as intermediaries for the delivery of bribes. Sharma is accused of habitually engaging in corrupt activities, including accepting bribes from private defense companies in return for undue favours, according to the CBI, an ANI report mentioned.
According to the CBI, Lt Col Sharma’s wife, Col Kajal Bali, who is currently serving as the Commanding Officer of the 16 Infantry Division of the Ordnance Unit in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, is also named in the case along with other unidentified persons and a Dubai-based company. The charges relate to criminal conspiracy, corruption and receiving illegal gratification.
Investigators alleged that Lt. Col. Sharma was routinely involved in corrupt practices and, in connivance with representatives of private defense manufacturing and export firms, accepted bribes in exchange for providing undue favors and brokering benefits from various government ministries and departments.
According to the Central Investigation Agency, two individuals – Rajiv Yadav and Ravjit Singh – who allegedly ran the Indian operations of the accused foreign company from Bengaluru were in regular contact with Lt Col Sharma. They allegedly coordinated with him to secure favorable results for their company through illegal means.
Both the accused were produced before the court on Saturday and remanded in police custody till December 23. Further investigation in the case is on, the CBI informed through a press release.
