CBI arrests Lt. Colonel and a private individual in bribery case linked to Ministry of Defence

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma and a private individual, Vinod Kumar, in connection with a bribery case, the agency said in a statement on Saturday.

According to the statement issued by CBI on Sunday, December 21, the case was registered on December 19, 2025, based on reliable source information against Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma, who serves as Deputy Planning Officer, International Cooperation and Exports, Department of Defence Productions, Ministry of Defence, Government of India; his wife, Col Kajal Bali, Commanding Officer, 16 Infantry Division Ordnance Unit (DOU), Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan; and others, including a Dubai-based company, on allegations of criminal conspiracy and bribery, among other charges.

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The agency stated that on December 18, 2025, one Vinod Kumar delivered a bribe of Rs 3 lakh, on behalf of the said company, to Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma.

“Searches conducted at Sri Ganganagar, Bengaluru, Jammu and other places. During searches at the house of Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma in Delhi, the bribe amount of Rs 3 lakh as well as cash amount of Rs 2,23,000,00 and a cash amount of Rs 10,00,000 from the house of accused at Sri Ganganagar, in addition to other incriminating material, has been seized,” the statement said.

It added that searches at the office premises of Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma in New Delhi are also continuing.

Both accused persons — Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma and Vinod Kumar — were produced in court on Saturday and are currently in police custody remand till December 23, 2025.

“Further investigation is underway,” the CBI said.

Background: CBI’s focus on defence-linked graft

The arrest comes amid the CBI’s renewed push to clamp down on corruption and irregularities linked to defence procurement, exports, and industrial contracts. In recent years, the agency has pursued multiple cases involving defence officials, contractors, and intermediaries accused of accepting bribes or manipulating tenders related to equipment supply, ordnance contracts, and technology exports.

Officials said the investigation in the present case is part of a wider scrutiny intended to strengthen transparency and accountability within India’s defence production and international cooperation framework — a critical area as the country seeks to expand indigenous manufacturing and exports under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.

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