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A special CBI court in Pune has rejected the bail application of Ashish Shivchand Kansal, CEO and director-promoter of SMPP Ltd, in an alleged bribery case linked to a ₹500 crore ammunition supply contract. The court cited suspected illegal cash transactions, deleted WhatsApp conversations and the ongoing investigation into possible disclosure of sensitive defence information.
What Is the Bribery Case?
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered the case on October 12 following allegations of illegal gratification involving officials of government-owned Munitions India Ltd (MIL) and private individuals.
The investigation concerns an ammunition supply contract worth approximately ₹500 crore awarded to SMPP Ltd, a private defence manufacturer also involved in drone technology. Anil Kumar, executive director of MIL, is among the accused.
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Special Judge RR Mendhe observed that the possibility of multiple illegal transactions between Kansal and Kumar required further investigation.
What Did the CBI Recover?
According to the court order, investigators recovered ₹1.67 crore in cash from Kumar’s residence. Witness statements submitted during the investigation allegedly connected Kansal to the movement of cash.
One suspected transaction took place on October 12. A courier reportedly told investigators that he was instructed to contact Kansal to collect money. The courier and three others allegedly visited Kansal’s residence, where cash was counted using a currency-counting machine before being handed over.
The courier was allegedly paid ₹67,200 as commission for the transaction. Another witness described receiving a transaction code and coordinating the delivery through WhatsApp. The money was subsequently recovered from Kumar’s residence.
What Happened at the Hotel?
Investigators also identified a suspected earlier transaction dated August 25 involving a hotel in Pune’s Sangamwadi area.
According to a witness statement, Kumar instructed an individual to collect packets from the hotel. The witness subsequently received a WhatsApp call from a number displaying Kansal’s name.
The witness alleged that Kansal handed over bags that were later delivered to Kumar’s residence. The court noted that WhatsApp call-log screenshots supported the communication evidence and warranted further examination of possible similar transactions.
Why Were WhatsApp Chats Important?
The alleged deletion of WhatsApp conversations between Kansal and Kumar became an important issue during the bail proceedings. The CBI told the court that Kansal had deleted their communications and had not disclosed their contents to investigators.
The agency argued that these circumstances raised concerns about cooperation with the investigation. It also submitted that releasing Kansal could create risks of witness intimidation, evidence tampering and obstruction of the probe.
What Did Kansal Argue?
Kansal’s lawyers maintained that he was innocent and had no previous criminal record. They argued that he was in Bengaluru with his daughter when the alleged incident occurred.
The defence submitted that relevant documents, mobile phones, laptops and office records had already been seized. It also questioned the courier’s identification of Kansal and pointed to the recovery of the money from Kumar. His lawyers challenged the arrest procedure, referring to Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and raised concerns about communication of the grounds for arrest.
Why Did the Court Reject Bail?
The court found that the required arrest formalities had been followed and that Kansal had not demonstrated prejudice arising from the alleged procedural shortcomings.
It also considered the witness statements, suspected cash transactions and seriousness of the allegations involving corruption and sensitive national defence information. Kansal was arrested on October 13 and had completed 25 days in custody when his bail application was considered.
The investigation remains underway, and no chargesheet has been filed. The court rejected bail after examining the preliminary evidence and the stage of the investigation. The allegations against Kansal and the other accused remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.
