CHENNAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a deputy director-level officer of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), Ministry of Corporate Affairs, posted in Chennai, a Delhi-based advocate and the advocate’s relative for allegedly demanding a Rs 1 crore bribe to favour a complainant in an investigation into the DHFL scam.The CBI arrested Harish Kumar Tanwar, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the 2017 batch who is currently posted as deputy director of the SFIO in Chennai, advocate Bharat Sharma of New Delhi, and Aryan Sharma, a relative of the advocate, after laying a trap. The arrests followed the advocate’s alleged receipt of Rs 20 lakh from the complainant as part payment of the demanded bribe on behalf of the SFIO officer.According to the CBI, the case was registered against Tanwar, the advocate and others following allegations that they had demanded Rs 1 crore from the complainant to allegedly favour him in an investigation into the DHFL scam being conducted by the SFIO.The CBI verified the complaint before registering the case on Tuesday. It subsequently laid a trap and arrested the three accused after the advocate allegedly received Rs 20 lakh from the complainant on behalf of the SFIO officer.The CBI also conducted searches at the premises of the public servant and the advocate and recovered incriminating material related to the case.The case has been registered under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, relating to criminal conspiracy, and Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
