A special CBI court in Mumbai granted bail to Charan Pratap Singh, the deputy registrar at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Mumbai bench, in connection with a ₹3 lakh bribery case related to a prolonged hotel ownership dispute. The court ordered him to furnish a personal bond and surety of ₹1 lakh, with strict conditions including regular reporting to the CBI and no interference with witnesses or evidence.
Allegations Outline Scheme to Influence Tribunal Outcome
NCLT’s Charan Pratap Singh was arrested on May 29 after being accused of demanding a ₹3.5 lakh bribe, which was later negotiated to ₹3 lakh, from a hotel owner embroiled in a dispute lodged with the tribunal since November 2020. The CBI alleges that Singh conspired with an associate, Karsan Ganesh Ahir, to expedite the case in return for illicit gain. Ahir was caught accepting the bribe during an undercover operation conducted at a Colaba restaurant.
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Court Weighs Modest Means Against Serious Allegations
During bail proceedings, Singh’s defence emphasized the absence of significant assets, highlighting that only ₹22,000 in cash was found during searches and that he resides in a modest shared “chawl” without property in Mumbai. The court considered these factors, along with the fact that the initial bribery amount was recovered, before granting bail.
As part of his bail conditions, Singh has been ordered to appear at the CBI office in Mumbai or Thane every Monday and Thursday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations.
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Broader Implications for Institutional Integrity
The CBI classified the case under Sections dealing with bribery, corruption, Criminal Conspiracy, and Money Laundering. Investigators are probing deeper, as court filings suggest possible links to senior NCLT officials and misuse of judicial influence.
This episode not only raises serious questions about ethical standards within the judiciary’s administrative ranks but also underscores the challenges the CBI faces when probing systemic misconduct. The bail, while signalling a legal pause for Singh, does not slow the agency’s efforts to uncover all involved parties.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.