CBI Inspector Booked for Alleged ₹2 Crore Extortion and Digital Arrest Threats in New Delhi

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against one of its own inspectors for allegedly demanding a massive bribe and harassing a Delhi resident through threats of “digital arrest”.

According to the First Information Report (FIR No. RC0032026A0013) registered on March 10, 2026, at CBI’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), New Delhi, Inspector Deepak Phalswal of the CBI’s Special Task Bureau (STB), Delhi, has been booked under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) for “demand of undue advantage by a public servant”.

The case was registered on the basis of a complaint forwarded by the Delhi Police South District to the CBI. The complainant, Shubham Mishra (24), son of Sanjay Mishra, resident of Farm No. 31, Mahabali Puram, Bhati Kalan, Delhi, alleged that on January 22-23, 2026, Deepak Phalswal visited his residence and introduced himself as a CBI Inspector.

Phalswal reportedly told Mishra that a complaint had been registered against him with the CBI and that he would have to appear at the CBI office near Lodhi Colony. He then allegedly demanded ₹2 crore as “ransom” to settle the matter. When Mishra refused, the accused allegedly reduced the demand and forcibly took ₹50,000 in cash from him. Phalswal further demanded ₹75,000 per month, to be paid either by him or someone on his behalf on the first day of every month.

The complainant claimed that Phalswal continued to harass him through repeated FaceTime calls and specifically instructed him not to contact his mobile number (9873547001) directly, claiming such calls could be tracked. For his safety, Mishra recorded the in-person conversation as well as all subsequent calls and submitted the audio evidence to the police.On March 9, 2026, when a person identified as Raja (son of Kartar Singh, a law student from Vasant Kunj) arrived at Mishra’s farm to collect the monthly payment on behalf of Phalswal, the complainant alerted the police.

Raja was detained at Police Station Maidan Garhi for questioning. Later that night, Inspector Deepak Phalswal himself reached the police station inquiring about Raja and initially claimed he was helping his friend “Sunny” recover a loan. However, when the audio recordings were played before him, he allegedly changed his statement, according to the brief note submitted by the Station House Officer (SHO) of PS Maidan Garhi.The identity of Inspector Deepak Phalswal was verified through his senior officers before he was allowed to leave.

The Delhi Police forwarded the original complaint, along with the pen-drive containing the audio recordings and the enquiry report, to the CBI for further action.The CBI has now formally registered a regular case and entrusted the investigation to DSP Anmol Sachan of CBI ACB, New Delhi. Superintendent of Police I.B. Pendhari, CBI ACB, New Delhi, has signed the FIR.

The development has raised serious questions about the conduct of a serving CBI officer and the misuse of official position for personal gain. The CBI has not issued any statement on the matter so far.