In a rare and high-profile arrest, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended Chintan Raghuvanshi, a senior Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer in Bhubaneswar, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹20 lakh from a mining businessman to derail a money laundering case. The operation, carried out in coordination with the whistleblowing complainant, marks a critical inflection point in India’s fight against institutional corruption.
Raghuvanshi, a 2013-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, was caught red-handed at his residence in Saheed Nagar while accepting ₹20 lakh in cash, part of a ₹50 lakh deal to “settle” an ED case. The trap was laid after the miner approached CBI officials with evidence of the bribery demand, a development that exposed a striking breach of integrity within India’s financial enforcement machinery.
Bribery Trail: How the ED Officer Was Caught Red-Handed
According to sources, Raghuvanshi had repeatedly contacted Rout over several weeks, coercing him into paying to quash an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities at his mining firm. After prolonged negotiations, the bribe amount was finalized at ₹50 lakh.
Rout, however, reported the matter to the CBI, which monitored the communication and coordinated a sting operation. On the day of the handover, May 29, Raghuvanshi was nabbed in possession of ₹20 lakh, the first installment of the illicit payment.
CBI officials immediately transferred him to their Nayapalli office for questioning. Rout was also interrogated to confirm the context and evidence trail. The arrest followed hours of interrogation and marked a significant escalation in anti-corruption enforcement, as it implicated a top official from an agency tasked with prosecuting money laundering itself.
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A Pattern of Power and Pressure: Background to the Case
The arrest comes just months after the ED conducted raids at 14 locations in Bhubaneswar and Dhenkanal in January, all linked to Rout. These searches were connected to alleged illegal financial dealings associated with Rout’s mining businesses.
While the ED investigation was still active, Rout allegedly faced growing pressure from Raghuvanshi to pay a bribe or face intensified legal consequences. “It wasn’t a negotiation—it was extortion in uniform,” a source close to the matter said, speaking anonymously.
This arrest is likely to provoke internal reviews within the Enforcement Directorate, which has faced increasing scrutiny over its growing influence and powers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Critics have warned about unchecked authority and the potential for misuse—concerns seemingly validated by this case.
A Blow to the ED’s Image and Broader Anti-Corruption Efforts
The incident could not have come at a more sensitive time. The ED has been actively involved in high-stakes probes against politicians, industrialists, and corporate houses. The arrest of one of its own senior officers could cast a shadow on several ongoing cases, especially those in politically sensitive regions.
Legal experts now anticipate that the integrity of ED investigations may be challenged more forcefully in court, especially if defense lawyers cite potential coercion or irregular procedures involving compromised officers.
Meanwhile, the CBI is expected to file a detailed chargesheet under the Prevention of Corruption Act and may probe whether other ED officials in the Bhubaneswar office were complicit or aware of the bribery demands.
As the case unfolds, it has reignited debate over India’s ability to police its own watchdogs—and whether institutional accountability can match the power these agencies wield.