NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), New Delhi, has registered a formal case against a Delhi Police Crime Branch official for allegedly demanding a bribe to avoid implicating a civilian in a fabricated criminal case. The action follows a complaint from a South Delhi couple who alleged that the official used intimidation, physical assault, and threats of legal entrapment to extort money.
The Accused and Charges
The FIR identifies the accused as Shri Akhilesh, posted at the Crime Branch, Delhi Police, Pushp Vihar, New Delhi. He has been booked under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), which specifically addresses the demand for an undue advantage by a public servant.
Abduction and Extortion Allegations
The complaint was lodged by Smt Soma Saifi and her husband, Shri Chander Prakash, residents of Sangam Vihar. According to the couple, the ordeal began on the afternoon of January 11, 2026.
- Assault and Detention: Chander Prakash was visiting a neighbor when several plainclothes police officers arrived. The complainant alleged that the officers assaulted her husband and others present before forcibly taking them to the Crime Branch office in Pushp Vihar.
- Seizure of Property: The officers also allegedly seized Chander Prakash’s scooty and mobile phone during the incident.
- The Bribe Demand: Once at the Crime Branch office, the accused official, Akhilesh, allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹3 lakhs from the victim.
- Threat of Legal Entrapment: The official reportedly threatened to implicate Chander Prakash in a false criminal case if the money was not paid. Additionally, he was allegedly forced to sign two blank papers under duress.
CBI Verification and Findings
Unwilling to comply with the illegal demand, the couple approached the CBI office on January 12, 2026. The CBI initiated a verification process (CO-03/2026) to validate the allegations.
- Independent Witness: The verification was conducted in the presence of an independent witness, Sh. Megha Ram, a government employee from the Central Water Commission.
- Confirmed Demand: The CBI’s verification report, led by Inspector Sandeep Kumar Tiwari, confirmed that the suspect had indeed demanded an undue advantage to prevent Chander Prakash’s implication in a false case.
- Negotiation: The report noted that while a specific final amount was not explicitly reached during the verification, the official agreed to accept whatever bribe money the complainant could arrange.
Formal Investigation Commences
Following the confirmation of the bribe demand, a regular case was formally registered on January 13, 2026. The investigation has been entrusted to Sh. Aakash Srivastav, Inspector, CBI, ACB, Delhi. The FIR was authorized and signed by I.B. Pendhari, Superintendent of Police, CBI, ACB, New Delhi.
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The CBI has stated that the role of other unknown persons involved in the initial detention and assault will also be scrutinized during the ongoing investigation.
