CBI Arrests IPS Officer in Rs 3 Crore Bribery Case Linked to Fake Drug Racket

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested Deepak Gahlawat, a 2012-batch Haryana cadre IPS officer currently serving as Regional Director with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). He is accused of demanding Rs 3 crore to influence an ongoing investigation into a Rs 5,000-crore counterfeit medicine manufacturing and distribution racket based in Puducherry.

The alleged bribery case originates from a crackdown on fake drug manufacturing in Puducherry last year. Local police and the CB-CID conducted raids that uncovered underground units producing spurious and adulterated medicines. Authorities seized large quantities of raw chemicals, packaging materials, and finished counterfeit drugs mimicking major pharmaceutical brands.

N Raja, a businessman from Puducherry, was arrested in December last year. The investigation later revealed alleged involvement of several politicians, prompting the transfer of the case to the CBI. As the CBI intensified its probe, Raja allegedly sought intermediaries to influence investigators and secure favourable treatment.

The CBI registered a First Information Report (FIR) on June 8 against Raja, Delhi Police Inspector Pradeep Kumar Singh, and another accused, Rajkumar, who allegedly acted as a middleman. Inspector Pradeep is accused of acting as a conduit, assuring Raja that the CBI investigation could be modified through high-level internal contacts. Gahlawat is accused of conspiring in his office to facilitate payments and contacting other public servants to assist the accused. Rajkumar allegedly operated as a link between the inspector and hawala dealers.

According to the CBI's submissions in a Delhi court, Gahlawat held a meeting with co-accused persons on May 14. He allegedly demanded Rs 50 lakh as illegal gratification from Raja to exert personal influence over a CBI officer. The agency stated that a total demand of Rs 3 crore was made, of which Rs 1 crore was delivered through hawala transactions. The CBI recovered this amount along with other incriminating documents. During a trap on June 8, Pradeep and Rajkumar were apprehended with part of the money.

The CBI sought custody of Gahlawat, arguing that he needed to be confronted with suspicious transactions and that his custody was essential to uncover the larger conspiracy and identify other co-accused. A Delhi court granted one day's custody on Wednesday. The investigation is ongoing.