MUMBAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has unearthed a bribery and hawala network linked to Delhi Police sub-inspector Rahul Malik, accused of demanding and accepting bribes to shield individuals in a cyber fraud case.
Malik was arrested for allegedly extorting Rs 2.5 lakh from a Navi Mumbai businessman as part of a larger Rs 14 lakh bribe, promising to prevent his arrest and that of his relative.
Investigations have now revealed a deeper nexus involving foreign SIM cards and multiple hawala operators spread across Mumbai, Erode (Tamil Nadu), and New Delhi, who allegedly facilitated the illicit transaction.
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The case, which stemmed from a written complaint under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, began when the businessman, operating a tour-and-travel company in Mumbai, discovered that login credentials provided by a Delhi-based Cash Management System (CMS) firm were linked to a fraudulent identity. The matter fell under the purview of the Cyber Police Station in Rohini, where Malik was posted.
On March 7, Malik reportedly visited the businessman’s Navi Mumbai residence, demanding Rs 50 lakh to drop the case. The following day, during a meeting at a Mumbai hotel, he revised the demand to Rs 16 lakh, ultimately settling for Rs 14 lakh. Malik then provided instructions on how the payment was to be made through a hawala network.
Acting on the complaint, the CBI intercepted the transaction by setting up a trap and apprehending a Mumbai-based hawala operator while accepting Rs 2.5 lakh on Malik’s behalf.
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The investigation is ongoing, with further verification needed on additional individuals suspected to be part of the operation. The agency has also sought Malik’s voice sample to corroborate evidence.
Currently in judicial custody, Malik has applied for bail while also challenging the legality of his arrest. With a technical probe underway, authorities are working to uncover the full extent of the hawala network and its role in corrupt practices within law enforcement.
As the case unfolds, the revelations point to a disturbing collusion between rogue police officers and underground financial channels, underscoring the need for stricter oversight and accountability in cybercrime investigations.