The CBI arrested a 2012-batch IPS officer from the Haryana cadre for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1 crore linked to the Puducherry counterfeit medicine racket. This follows the agency’s arrest of two men, including a Delhi Police inspector, in the same case a month earlier. The officer, Deepak Gahlawat, reportedly told the main accused that he could secure relief in the CBI investigation through internal connections and demanded Rs 3 crore for this service. He is said to have already received Rs 1 crore. A Delhi court questioned the CBI on why it had not inquired about the involvement of other agency officers during Gahlawat’s questioning. The judge expressed concern over the lack of investigation into possible influence on CBI personnel. Gahlawat denied the allegations in court, stating he made no calls to CBI contacts and no funds were traced to his accounts. The court allowed one day of custodial interrogation. Gahlawat serves as Regional Director at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The CBI stated it is continuing to examine his contacts within the agency. Earlier arrests in the case led to recovery of Rs 25 lakh in trap money and Rs 90 lakh in additional cash along with documents. The FIR named the main accused, a Delhi Police inspector, an intermediary, and unknown public servants. The original racket was exposed last year through raids in Puducherry, with the case later transferred to the CBI.
