Serving Lieutenant Colonel Arrested by CBI in Defence Corruption Case

CBI Arrests Serving Army Officer in Defence Bribery Case, Cash Seized Across Multiple Locations

The arrest of a serving Lieutenant Colonel by the Central Bureau of Investigation has sent a sharp signal through India’s defence establishment, underlining the heightened scrutiny now facing procurement and export-linked decision-making within the sector. The agency on Saturday confirmed the arrest of Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma and a private individual, Vinod Kumar, in connection with an alleged bribery and corruption racket tied to defence manufacturing and exports.

According to the CBI, the case was registered on December 19, 2025, following what it described as “credible source information”. The arrests were carried out the very next day, reflecting the seriousness with which investigators are treating allegations involving sensitive defence functions.

At the time of the alleged offence, Lt Col Sharma was posted as Deputy Planning Officer (International Cooperation & Exports) in the Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence. The FIR also names his wife, Colonel Kajal Bali—currently commanding the 16 Infantry Division Ordnance Unit in Sri Ganganagar—as well as unidentified individuals and a Dubai-based company, indicating a potentially wider network under examination.

Investigators allege that Sharma abused his official position to extend unlawful favours to private entities engaged in defence-related business. In return, he is accused of receiving illegal financial gratification while facilitating access, approvals or influence across multiple government departments. The agency claims that two individuals handling the Indian operations of the foreign-linked company remained in frequent contact with Sharma and acted in coordination with him to secure favourable outcomes.

The probe gained momentum after Vinod Kumar allegedly delivered ₹3 lakh in cash to the officer on December 18, acting on instructions from the private company. During subsequent searches, the CBI recovered the bribe amount from Sharma’s Delhi residence, along with additional cash totalling ₹2.23 lakh. Raids at his premises in Sri Ganganagar yielded a further ₹10 lakh in cash, besides documents and materials now being examined as evidence.

Search operations are ongoing at multiple locations, including New Delhi, Sri Ganganagar, Bengaluru and Jammu, as investigators piece together financial trails, communication records and official files. The agency has indicated that office premises linked to the accused in the national capital are also being scrutinised.

Both Sharma and Vinod Kumar were produced before a competent court on December 20 and have been remanded to police custody until December 23. Officials said the investigation is at an early stage and the role of additional individuals and corporate entities is being actively assessed.

Experts tracking defence-sector compliance note that cases of this nature often expose weaknesses in oversight frameworks rather than isolated misconduct. Strong internal controls, independent verification and review mechanisms—principles central to auditing services in india—are increasingly seen as critical in safeguarding high-stakes government functions from conflicts of interest and financial abuse.

The CBI has reiterated that corruption involving defence production and exports will be pursued with zero tolerance, given its direct implications for national security and public trust. Further arrests and disclosures have not been ruled out as the inquiry progresses.