CBI Arrests Lieutenant Colonel in Department of Defence Production in Ministry of Defence Bribery Scandal; ₹2.33 Crore Cash Seized
NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 20, 2025: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended Lt. Col. Deepak Kumar Sharma, Deputy Planning Officer in the Department of Defence Production, and a private individual, Vinod Kumar, in connection with a high-profile bribery and criminal conspiracy case. The case, registered on December 19 following reliable intelligence, also names the officer’s wife, Col. Kajal Bali (Commanding Officer of the 16 Infantry Division Ordnance Unit in Sri Ganganagar), and representatives of a Dubai-based defense firm.
Allegations suggest that Lt. Col. Sharma habitually conspired with private defense manufacturers and exporters, accepting substantial bribes in exchange for providing undue official favors.The investigation took a significant turn when it was revealed that representatives of the accused company, based in Bangalore, were in regular contact with the officer to secure illegal advantages across various government departments.
According to the CBI, a bribe of ₹3 lakh was delivered to Lt. Col. Sharma on December 18 by Vinod Kumar on behalf of the company. Following the arrests, the CBI launched extensive search operations across multiple locations, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Jammu, and Sri Ganganagar. These raids led to the recovery of the ₹3 lakh bribe alongside an additional ₹2.23 crore in cash from the officer’s Delhi residence and ₹10 lakh from his house in Sri Ganganagar. Both accused were produced in court today and have been remanded to police custody until December 23, 2025, as investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the network.