Corruption
CBI Arrests Sub-Inspector for Bribery in Multi-State Hawala Racket
New Delhi – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Sub-Inspector (SI) of Delhi Police, Cyber Police Station, Rohini, on charges of demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh. The bribe was allegedly a part payment funneled through multiple hawala operators based in Mumbai, Erode (Tamil Nadu), and New Delhi.
Bribery Allegations and Investigation
The arrest followed a complaint received by the CBI against the accused SI and other unknown persons. According to the complaint, the complainant, who operates a tours and travel business in Mumbai, had business dealings with a private company associated with a Cash Management System (CMS). During an ongoing investigation, the complainant discovered that his login credentials had been misused to create virtual wallets under a fake name. The matter was under investigation at the Cyber Police Station in Rohini.
The accused officer allegedly misused his authority to intimidate the complainant’s relatives, particularly his brother-in-law, who had joined the investigation. Instead of conducting a fair probe, the accused SI threatened them with arrest unless a bribe was paid.
Escalation of Bribe Demands
According to the FIR, on March 7, 2025, the accused SI met the complainant at Navi Mumbai and demanded a bribe of Rs 50 lakh, promising to clear his name and that of his brother-in-law from the case. The accused also issued veiled threats, implying dire consequences if the money was not paid.
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Later, on March 8, the SI asked the complainant to meet him at a hotel on Ghodbunder Road in Mumbai. During the meeting, the officer reiterated his demand, typing an amount of Rs 16 lakh on his mobile screen to indicate the bribe sum. Subsequently, when the complainant and his lawyer visited Cyber Police Station Rohini, the accused allegedly escalated his threats, warning of severe consequences if his demands were not met.
CBI Lays a Trap
After negotiations, the accused officer agreed to lower the bribe amount to Rs 14 lakh and provided details of the individuals to whom the money should be delivered. The complainant was then given information about a hawala operator in Mumbai, along with a token number required for the money transfer.
Acting swiftly, CBI officials laid a trap on March 19, 2025, and caught the hawala operator accepting Rs 2.5 lakh at Mumbai. This transaction was reportedly a part payment to public officials involved in the bribery scheme. The money transfer was routed through multiple hawala operators in Mumbai, Erode, and New Delhi to disguise the illicit transaction.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Following the successful operation, the accused police officer was arrested in Delhi on March 19, 2025. He was presented before the Special CBI Judge at Rouse Avenue Court, New Delhi, on March 20, 2025. The court granted him transit remand until March 21, 2025, after which he will be produced before the designated CBI court in Mumbai for further proceedings.
Ongoing Investigation
The CBI has indicated that the investigation is still ongoing, with efforts underway to track down other individuals involved in the bribery and hawala network. Authorities are also probing whether more police officials or government employees were complicit in the scheme.
This case has highlighted growing concerns about corruption within cybercrime law enforcement agencies and the misuse of hawala networks for illicit financial transactions. The CBI’s swift action serves as a warning against corrupt officials who abuse their positions for personal gain.