The Rouse Avenue Court has remanded Serious Fraud Investigation Office Deputy Director Harish Tanwar to three days of Central Bureau of Investigation custody in connection with an alleged bribery case of one crore rupees. The order was passed on Friday by Special CBI Judge Munish Markan, allowing the federal investigating agency to conduct custodial interrogation to trace the broader conspiracy and identify potential associates. The court also extended the CBI custody of co-accused advocate Bharat Sharma by one day, while a third accused, Aryan Sharma, was earlier sent to judicial custody for fourteen days on October 14. The case involves allegations that undue relief was offered to a complainant regarding an ongoing probe into the Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited scam.
Bribery Demand Scaled Down Following Negotiations
According to the investigating agency, the matter originated from an official complaint lodged on October 12 by Gopal Shivram Delvi. The complainant alleged that Harish Tanwar, who was posted with the SFIO in Chennai, initially demanded an illicit payment of ten crore rupees in exchange for extending relief and procedural benefits during the DHFL investigation. Following subsequent negotiations between the parties, the alleged bribe amount was scaled down to one crore rupees, with an agreed initial advance payment set at twenty-five lakh rupees. After conducting a preliminary verification into the complaint, the CBI registered a formal case and arranged an operation in the presence of two independent witnesses.
Trap Operation Leads to Arrest in Chennai
During the operation, a sum of twenty lakh rupees was handed over to advocate Bharat Sharma. The agency stated that Aryan Sharma received the amount on behalf of the advocate. Moving swiftly on the transaction, the CBI arrested Harish Tanwar from Chennai on October 14 and brought him before the special court in the national capital. The agency informed the bench that sustained interrogation is required to unravel the larger conspiracy, understand how the transaction was coordinated, and verify the possible involvement of other persons. Investigators added that searches conducted at the premises of the accused official and the advocate yielded several suspicious documents and materials linked to the case.
Defence Opposes Remand Citing Ongoing Investigation
Counsels appearing for the accused contested the agency’s plea for remand during the hearing. The defence questioned the necessity of custodial interrogation, arguing that the investigation is still in progress and that the allegations against the individuals are yet to be tested and established before the court. The CBI countered that custodial questioning is critical to connect the chain of evidence and uncover key facts regarding the arrangement. After evaluating the submissions from both sides, the court granted three days of remand for Harish Tanwar and a single-day extension for Bharat Sharma.
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