The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested three individuals, including a senior public sector executive and a private firm promoter, in connection with an alleged bribery network tied to defence contracts and the leak of classified procurement information. The arrested persons have been identified as Anil Kumar, executive director of the state-owned defence public sector undertaking Munitions India Limited; Ashish Kansal, chief executive officer, director, and promoter of private defence manufacturer SMPP Private Limited; and Kumar’s brother, B. Harshavardhan. The probe centres on claims that illicit payments were sought and offered to secure favourable administrative treatment and sensitive operational data concerning national defence production.
Ammunition Supply Deal Under CBI Scrutiny
Federal investigators are focusing on a major ammunition supply agreement valued at ₹500 crore awarded to SMPP Private Limited for execution over a one-year timeframe. The agency suspects defence establishment officials were bribed to steer contracts and compromise restricted procurement procedures. According to the first information report registered by the agency on October 12, Kansal maintained regular contact with Kumar, who was posted in Pune and allegedly solicited illegal gratification from private vendors. Another company employee, Ravite Kumar Teotia, has also been named in the FIR as part of the broader conspiracy, with officials reviewing communications to trace how official favours were exchanged for illicit cash considerations.
Interception of Bribery Delivery and Coordinated Raids
Agency officials acted on actionable intelligence indicating that Kansal had arranged to deliver a substantial sum of bribe money to Kumar in Pune on October 12. Investigators alleged that Kumar instructed his brother, Harshavardhan, to travel to Pune the following morning to take custody of the funds and ensure their safe concealment. Acting on these findings, investigators apprehended Harshavardhan and initiated coordinated search operations across multiple premises linked to the accused individuals in Pune, Mysuru, Bengaluru, and Delhi.
The multi-city search operations led to the total recovery of approximately ₹2.23 crore in unaccounted cash. Searches conducted across properties in Pune yielded ₹1.73 crore, while simultaneous inspections in Mysuru, Bengaluru, and Delhi uncovered an additional ₹50 lakh in currency alongside incriminating official documents. The seized records and financial trails are currently being analysed to establish the direct source of the cash, verify its intended recipients, and determine its link to the contractual approvals granted to the supplier.
Laundering Routes and Familial Networks Under Investigation
The FIR further alleges that Kumar systematically routed illegal gains through his close family members to mask the illicit origin of the funds. Investigators are probing the roles of Kumar’s wife, brother, and other relatives, who were allegedly engaged to hold, transport, and distribute money generated from bribery and official misconduct. The investigative team is working to uncover the full scope of these transactions and identify other public servants or private intermediaries who may have facilitated the procurement leaks.
Proceedings have been formally initiated under relevant anti-corruption provisions against SMPP Private Limited, its executives, and unidentified public servants and private entities. The allegations against the three arrested individuals remain subject to judicial determination as the agency continues its scrutiny into the financial channels and procedural lapses surrounding the ₹500 crore ammunition contract.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
