NEW DELHI: The CBI on Wednesday arrested a Delhi Police Crime Branch inspector and a middleman for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 3 crore from a Puducherry-based businessman in exchange for influencing an ongoing probe into a fake drug manufacturing case, according to news agency PTI.The arrested accused have been identified as Crime Branch Inspector Pradeep Singh and Rajkumar. The duo was caught during a CBI trap operation conducted on Monday evening. Investigators recovered Rs 24.70 lakh in cash from them.According to officials, the role of a senior public servant, believed to be a regional director of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is also being examined as part of the investigation.The agency has registered an FIR against Pradeep Singh, Rajkumar and businessman N Raja.According to officials, Raja had been booked by the CBI earlier this year in connection with a fake drug manufacturing case. During the investigation, he allegedly came into contact with Singh, who claimed he could help influence the probe.Investigators said Singh later arranged a meeting between Raja and a senior public servant, “identified as a regional director of the DGCA”, in Aerocity, Delhi.During the meeting, the public servant allegedly assured Raja of “a favourable investigation” by using his personal influence over CBI officials and demanded a bribe of Rs 3 crore, with Rs 1.5 crore to be paid in advance.Officials said Raja arranged Rs 1 crore through a hawala channel and handed it over to Singh. Of this amount, Singh allegedly passed Rs 50 lakh to another intermediary, Prabhat, who was known to the suspected public servant.“Accused Pradeep Kumar Singh kept the remaining Rs 25 lakh in his office. Thereafter, on June 8, 2026, accused Rajkumar and Pradeep Kumar Singh were apprehended,” an official said.The CBI is continuing its investigation and examining the involvement of all those linked to the alleged bribery network.
