The role of a senior public servant, understood to be a “regional director of the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)”, is also under scanner, officials said. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Delhi Police Crime Branch Inspector for allegedly demanding ₹3 crore to "influence" the agency's ongoing investigation against a Puducherry-based businessman in a fake drug manufacturing case, officials said on Wednesday (June 10, 2026). The role of a senior public servant, understood to be a "regional director of the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)", is also under scanner, they said.Crime Branch Inspector Pradeep Singh and a middleman, Rajkumar, were caught after the CBI laid a trap on Monday (June 8, 2026) evening. Cash worth ₹24.70 lakh was recovered from them, officials said. The agency has registered an FIR against Mr. Singh, Rajkumar and businessman N. Raja.According to officials, the CBI had booked Raja in a fake drug manufacturing case earlier this year. Desperate for relief, the businessman got in touch with Mr. Singh, who assured him that he would be able to influence the probe. Mr. Singh even arranged a meeting with a senior public servant, "identified as a regional director of the DGCA", in Aerocity.During the meeting, the public servant promised Raja "a favourable investigation" by using his personal influence over CBI officials and allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹3 crore, with ₹1.5 crore to be paid upfront. The businessman arranged ₹1 crore through a hawala transaction, which was paid to Mr. Singh, who in turn handed over ₹50 lakh to another middleman, Mr. Prabhat, who was known to the suspect public servant, officials said. "Accused Pradeep Kumar Singh kept the remaining ₹25 lakh in his office. Thereafter, on June 8, 2026, accused Rajkumar and Pradeep Kumar Singh were apprehended," an official said. Published - June 10, 2026 04:22 pm IST
