CBI Books SBI Loan Manager for Demanding ₹10,000 Bribe per Solar Rooftop Application

Guwahati: — The Central Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBI ACB), Guwahati, has registered a regular case against a senior official of the State Bank of India for allegedly demanding illegal gratification to process subsidized loans under the government’s solar rooftop electrification scheme.

In FIR No. RC0172026A0005 dated 12 March 2026, registered at CBI, ACB, Guwahati under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), the CBI has named Shri Abhishek Sen Gupta, Loan Manager at SBI’s Gumi Branch, Chaigaon, Kamrup (Rural), Assam, as the accused.

The case was registered on the basis of a written complaint dated 11 March 2026 filed by Md. Imrul Haque, proprietor of Janakalyani Financial Services, Mahtoli Bazar, Sontoli, Kamrup, Assam (Mobile: 86380 28390). Haque, a registered vendor facilitating solar rooftop installations, alleged that Sen Gupta demanded bribes of ₹8,000–₹10,000 per loan application for the sanction and disbursement of subsidised loans meant for prospective customers.

According to the complaint and the FIR, the Central Government provides a subsidy of ₹85,000 and the Assam Government an additional ₹45,000 for the installation of a 3 KW solar lighting system costing ₹2,00,000. The beneficiary is required to take a bank loan of ₹70,000 through the designated nodal bank — in this case, SBI Gumi Branch.

Haque’s firm assists customers by processing applications through the PM Surya portal and coordinating with the bank.Haque stated that he met Sen Gupta on or around 3–4 March 2026 regarding three pending loan applications of different customers.

The Loan Manager allegedly demanded ₹8,000 per application as illegal gratification, later increasing the demand to ₹10,000 per loan. A discreet verification conducted by the CBI prior to registration of the case confirmed that Sen Gupta had demanded a total of ₹16,000 (₹8,000 per application) as “reward/undue advantage” for processing two loan applications.Haque categorically refused to pay any bribe and approached the CBI ACB, Guwahati, requesting strict action against the official. “I am not willing to pay any amount as bribe,” the complainant wrote in his hand-written complaint.

The CBI has entrusted the investigation to Inspector Abhimanyu Kumar of CBI ACB, Guwahati. The case was registered after preliminary verification of the allegations and has been forwarded to the court.

This is the latest in a series of vigilance cases being pursued by the CBI in Assam targeting alleged corruption in the implementation of central and state government welfare and subsidy schemes. Solar rooftop electrification under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is a flagship initiative aimed at promoting renewable energy and providing subsidized power to households, with banks playing a crucial role in disbursing the beneficiary loan component.

SBI Gumi Branch functions as the nodal financial agency for customers in the Chaigaon area for this scheme. Officials from the bank were not available for comment immediately.

The CBI has appealed to anyone with information related to the case to come forward and assist the investigation.