Bribery Case: Court Extends Judicial Custody of Delhi Police SI

A Delhi court has extended the judicial custody of a police sub-inspector in a bribery case linked to a Rs 45,000-crore Ponzi scam involving Pearls Group founder Nirmal Singh Bhangoo.

Special Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna sent Delhi Police sub-inspector Rajesh Yadav to jail after the CBI produced him before the court following the expiration of his two days’ custodial interrogation.

Yadav, posted at Barakhamba police station, was apprehended by the CBI on Monday for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 4.5 lakh from an employee of Bhangoo. The bribe was purportedly taken to avoid implicating the employee’s daughter and son-in-law in the Ponzi scam case.

The CBI informed the court that Yadav was allegedly receiving the bribe under the instructions of sub-inspector Varun Chichi, also posted at the same police station. Chichi is currently evading arrest, as per the agency’s statement to the court.

In a complaint to the CBI, the employee of Bhangoo alleged that Chichi demanded Rs 25 lakh from him to refrain from arresting and implicating Bhangoo’s daughter and son-in-law in the ongoing case. The supposed demand was made approximately 10-12 days ago when the complainant visited Barakhamba police station to provide medicines to Bhangoo, who had been brought there from Tihar jail, as per the CBI’s assertions.

“The said sub-inspector agreed to accept a part payment of Rs 5 lakh from the complainant,” stated the CBI. On the day of the alleged illicit transaction, the CBI conducted a trap operation, catching Yadav in the act of receiving Rs 4.5 lakh from the complainant based on Chichi’s directions.

The CBI also reported conducting searches at the residences of both sub-inspectors. Bhangoo and three others were arrested by the CBI in January 2016 for their alleged involvement in swindling Rs 45,000 crore from over five crore investors who were enticed with attractive land deals.