CBI Busts CPRI Bribery Racket; FIR Filed Against Joint Director and Sudhir Transformers Executives

NEW DELHI – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a Regular Case against a high-ranking official of the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) and top executives of M/s Sudhir Transformers Ltd. for their alleged involvement in a bribery scandal to secure favorable equipment test reports .

The FIR, numbered RC2182026A0001, was registered on January 8, 2026, by the CBI’s Anti-Corruption-III branch in New Delhi.

The Accused

The CBI has named several key figures in the conspiracy:

• Rajaram Mohanrao Chennu: Joint Director, CPRI, High Power Lab, Bengaluru.
• Atul Khanna: Director, M/s Sudhir Transformers Ltd., New Delhi.
• Rahul Seth: Joint Managing Director, M/s Sudhir Group of Companies.
• Mallikarjuna Reddy Yartha: GM Designs, M/s Sudhir Transformers Ltd., Bengaluru.
• M/s Sudhir Transformers Ltd. (as a commercial organization).

The Bribery Allegations

According to the FIR, the investigation was triggered by reliable source information indicating that Rajaram Mohanrao Chennu was using his position at the CPRI—an autonomous society under the Ministry of Power—to solicit bribes .

The key developments in the case include:

• The Demand: On December 12, 2025, Chennu allegedly demanded ₹10 lakhs from Atul Khanna to issue a favorable quality test report for electrical equipment manufactured by Sudhir Transformers that was undergoing testing at the Bengaluru lab .
• The Increase: Following discussions involving other CPRI officials, the total bribe amount was reportedly increased to ₹14 lakhs .
• Hawala Transactions: To facilitate the payment, the funds were allegedly moved through Hawala channels. On December 30, 2025, Mallikarjuna Reddy Yartha confirmed receiving the ₹14 lakhs in Bengaluru, which he kept safe for delivery.
• The Delivery Plan: The bribe was scheduled to be delivered personally by Atul Khanna to Chennu in Bengaluru on January 8, 2026 .

Legal Action and Charges

The CBI has invoked multiple sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), including Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12, along with Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 for criminal conspiracy . These charges cover bribery of a public servant, abetment, and offenses by commercial organizations.

The investigation has been entrusted to Amit Kumar Bhatnagar, Inspector, CBI, AC-III, New Delhi, under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Kamal Singh Choudhary.