Delhi-based bureaucrat probing DHFL fraud arrested for seeking Rs 1 crore bribe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a Deputy Director-level officer of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), along with a Delhi-based advocate and another private individual, in connection with an alleged Rs 1 crore bribery case. The principal accused, an Indian Revenue Service officer from the 2017 batch, was serving as the investigating officer in a probe involving alleged financial irregularities at Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL). According to official reports, the accused allegedly threatened a complainant with arrest and prosecution unless the bribe was paid.

Following a written complaint submitted on October 12, 2026, the CBI verified the allegations through independent witnesses. Investigators reported that the advocate instructed the complainant to deliver a Rs 20 lakh part payment on behalf of the public servant. The CBI subsequently set a trap and arrested the three individuals immediately after the delivery of the initial sum. Authorities also executed searches at multiple premises, recovering incriminating materials, and launched a separate inquiry into the supervisory role of a senior officer.

The broader backdrop involves ongoing scrutiny into DHFL and its promoters by multiple central investigative agencies regarding alleged fund diversion and financial irregularities exceeding Rs 34,000 crore. The SFIO itself launched an investigation into the firm following a government directive in November 2019. The current case focuses specifically on the alleged corruption and extortion attempt within the investigative process, with the CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch actively pursuing the ongoing investigation.

Not yet reported: The reports do not specify the final court outcomes or the exact identity of the complainant.