A Zilla Parishad executive engineer and an accountant were arrested in Nashik for allegedly soliciting and accepting a bribe to clear contractor bills.
The Congress-led UDF government in Kerala has ordered a police inquiry into the alleged CMRL bribery case, targeting former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and son-in-law P A Mohamed Riyas. This decision follows a report from the Enforcement Directorate and legal advice from the Advocate General.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has accused the opposition DMK of organised corruption and illegal collection of "party funds" during its previous regime, citing Enforcement Directorate documents. The allegations, which named former CM M K Stalin and his deputy Udhayanidhi as beneficiaries, led to a major ruckus in the Assembly.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) in Idukki, Kerala, has registered a case against three individuals, including two former office-bearers of Adimaly Grama Panchayat, for allegedly misappropriating Rs 68.62 lakh in a goat distribution scheme meant for 2018 flood-affected people. The accused are alleged to have conspired to award a contract for goat supply to an unlicensed individual, leading to a significant financial loss to the government.
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday questioned the state government's decision to order a preliminary enquiry into the alleged CMRL bribery case, despite information from the ED regarding corruption offences against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and others. The court is hearing appeals from Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and son-in-law P A Mohamed Riyas, who argue they were not heard before an FIR was directed to be lodged. The ED alleges fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore were made to Veena's company.
The Anti-Corruption Branch has sought judicial custody for former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, ex-Delhi Jal Board CEO Udit Prakash Rai, and three others in a corruption case related to alleged irregularities in the tendering process for Delhi Jal Board's sewage treatment plant projects. The accused's counsels have challenged the arrests, with Jain's lawyer planning a bail plea.
The Supreme Court has granted bail to Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College Hospital, who was accused of financial irregularities and manipulating merit scores. The decision was based on his two-year incarceration and the slow progress of the trial, with only 7 out of 147 witnesses examined so far.
A recent Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report reveals that over 70,500 corruption complaints were lodged against various government bodies last year, with banks and the Railways accounting for the highest numbers. While a significant portion of these complaints has been disposed of, thousands remain under process, highlighting ongoing challenges in addressing corruption within public sector entities.
A Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) in Nagpur, Sajan Shaligramji Shende, who had previously filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) about corruption within the RTO, has himself been arrested in a bribery case. Shende was allegedly involved in illegally collecting money at the Khursapar RTO border checkpost. The ACB acted on a complaint from a truck owner regarding a Rs 500 bribe, leading to the arrest of Shende and another individual, Praveen Baburao Gaidhane, and the recovery of Rs 47,000 in cash. Both are booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A CPI(M) councillor in Thiruvananthapuram, Ajin S L, is under investigation by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) for allegedly demanding a Rs 10 lakh bribe to resolve a land-related issue. His residence was searched, and a case has been registered against him and three others under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CPI(M) has announced an internal inquiry, while the BJP demands his resignation.
The Rajasthan government has suspended Sub-Divisional Magistrate Kajal Meena after her arrest in a corruption case involving bribery allegations.
Telangana's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a Disproportionate Assets (DA) case against N Lakshmi Bhasker, an Additional Medical Superintendent at NIMS, Hyderabad. Searches at his properties and associates' places revealed assets worth over Rs 6.13 crore, including apartments, plots, bank deposits, and gold, acquired through alleged corrupt practices. The investigation is ongoing.
The Kerala High Court has directed the Vigilance to register an FIR under the anti-graft law against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and son-in-law P A Mohamed Riyas in the alleged CMRL bribery case. The court stated that information provided by the Enforcement Directorate contains sufficient material to show commission of cognizable offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, ruling out the need for a preliminary enquiry. The court also deemed illegal the state government's decision to form a Special Investigation Team for a preliminary enquiry.
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has registered a case against former Tamil Nadu Highways Minister E V Velu, nine officials, and a private firm in connection with an alleged multi-crore road construction scam. The case involves fraudulent payments for unexecuted works in Karur and Erode districts, prompting political reactions from DMK Chief M K Stalin.
A police sub-inspector in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, has been arrested for allegedly running an illegal extortion racket targeting local shopkeepers and operating an unauthorised parking scheme. The officer, Shashank Kaushik, is accused of using two history-sheeters, who are now absconding, to collect "protection money" from vendors. A departmental inquiry is underway, and an FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A nearly 70,000-page chargesheet filed by the Supreme Court-mandated SIT details the diversion of donations from the Ram temple in Ayodhya, revealing a network of eight accused who allegedly removed, concealed, and distributed pilfered funds during cash-counting, supported by 105 CCTV instances and thousands of text messages.
The Bombay High Court questioned dismissed cop Sachin Waze's potential return to service if granted bail in the Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case. The court reserved its order on NIA's appeal against Waze's bail, also questioning the application of terrorism charges under UAPA.
The Kerala High Court dismissed pleas by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and son-in-law P A Mohamed Riyas, challenging an order to register an FIR against them in the alleged CMRL bribery case. Current Chief Minister V D Satheesan defended the government's actions, stating they followed legal advice, while political parties reacted sharply, with BJP welcoming the verdict and CPI(M) alleging political motivation.
Congress leader Jinto John criticised the UDF government for opting for a preliminary inquiry instead of an FIR against LoP Pinarayi Vijayan and his family in the alleged CMRL bribery case. This comes after the Kerala High Court dismissed petitions challenging an order to register an FIR. The Enforcement Directorate alleges fraudulent payments to Vijayan's daughter's company.
The Chhattisgarh Economic Offence Wing/Anti-Corruption Bureau (EOW/ACB) has filed its 10th supplementary charge sheet in the alleged liquor scam, accusing 20 individuals, including former state Congress treasurer Ramgopal Agrawal, and 22 firms. The 27,000-page document details illegal liquor production, hawala transactions, and investment of illicit proceeds. The scam, estimated by the ED to be between 2019 and 2022, involved a complex network of illegal liquor sales, duplicate holograms, and routing of funds.
A sub-inspector in Arunachal Pradesh was arrested for accepting a Rs 65,000 bribe to release documents related to a road accident case, after demanding Rs 1.5 lakh. The Anti-corruption Bureau caught him red-handed.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Maharashtra's Beed district has arrested an education officer and a teacher for allegedly demanding a Rs 40,000 bribe. The bribe was sought from a school headmaster for a favourable inquiry report regarding alleged irregularities in online billing. The arrests followed a complaint and a trap laid by the ACB.
A Kottayam Vigilance Court has sentenced former Kerala DGP Tomin J Thachankary to four years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 30.84 lakh in a disproportionate assets case. This marks the first time a DGP-rank officer in Kerala has been convicted for such an offence, with the court finding him guilty of amassing wealth 135.80 per cent in excess of his known income between 2003 and 2007.
Madhya Pradesh's Lokayukta police raided 15 premises linked to head constable Firoz Khan in Indore and Dewas, uncovering assets worth Rs 6.27 crore. This amount is more than three times his legitimate income over 24 years of service. Khan is accused of misusing his position in property dealings, and an FIR has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, with a woman associate also named as an accused.
The West Bengal Anti-Corruption Branch arrested an RTO official and a middleman in Kolkata for allegedly demanding and accepting a Rs 90,000 bribe to renew a bus permit. The arrests followed a trap operation based on a bus owner's complaint.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has criticised the CBI raids on his OSD and others, alleging it's part of the BJP's election campaign strategy in non-BJP ruled states. The CBI registered a corruption case following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which noted prima facie evidence of corruption. Mann dismissed the allegations, stating his government is not involved in corruption and will cooperate with investigations.
Former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has moved the Supreme Court seeking protection from arrest under anti-terrorism laws in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. This appeal follows the dismissal of his previous petition by the Court of Appeal and an existing overseas travel ban.
Lokayukta Police in Indore raided a head constable and his associates, uncovering properties worth approximately Rs 29.73 crore. The head constable, Firoz Khan, is accused of using his position to acquire disproportionate assets, significantly exceeding his legitimate income over 24 years of service. The investigation has identified 33 immovable properties, vehicles, bank accounts, and links to private companies.
A former government officer in Srinagar has been sentenced to a year's imprisonment in a 16-year-old corruption case involving bribery.
Sanjay Gupta, a 1988-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the chief secretary of Himachal Pradesh amidst allegations of corruption, sparking controversy and criticism from opposition parties.
The CBI has initiated an investigation into an alleged Rs 65-crore investment scam involving Viswadeepthi Multi State Agri Co-operative Society Ltd, following a directive from the Kerala High Court. The society is accused of inducing public deposits with high interest rates but failing to repay them, leading to significant financial losses for depositors.
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen in a cheating case. Sen is accused of commercialising Durga Puja by selling high-priced preview show tickets through an organisation allegedly linked to him and his family, diverting government funds. The court noted "trappings of corruption" and the Enforcement Directorate is also investigating.
A Town Planning Supervisor with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) was caught red-handed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) while allegedly accepting a Rs four lakh bribe. The officer had demanded Rs eight lakh to overlook building construction orders and avoid harassing a complainant. Unaccounted cash of Rs 2.5 lakh was also seized from her.
Kerala's Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph stated that criticism regarding the state government's initial decision for a preliminary inquiry in the alleged CMRL payments case, involving former CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his family, would subside following a recent Supreme Court verdict. Health Minister K Muraleedharan also affirmed that the SC order vindicated the government's cautious approach, which prioritised a preliminary inquiry over immediate FIR registration based solely on the ED's request.
The Anti-corruption Bureau in Jammu and Kashmir has arrested a senior government officer and a middleman for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000. The officer, Naseer Ahmad Khan, from the Agriculture Department, was accused of demanding Rs 2 lakh from a seed dealer, with Rs 1 lakh already paid. The arrests were made during a trap laid by the ACB.
The NIA informed the Bombay High Court that dismissed police officer Sachin Waze planted an explosives-laden SUV near Mukesh Ambani's residence in 2021 to gain fame as a "super cop" by solving the case himself. The agency further alleged that Waze murdered his friend Mansukh Hiran, who owned the vehicle, fearing he would expose the conspiracy. The High Court extended its interim stay on Waze's bail, which was previously granted by a special court.
Former Enforcement Directorate deputy director Niranjan Singh resigned from the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De just five days after joining, citing "non-negotiable" differences. Singh, who had joined to tackle drug menace and corruption, did not specify the issues but emphasised adherence to the Constitution. The party is led by the incarcerated Amritpal Singh.
The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and state governments on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) advocating for the confiscation of movable and immovable property belonging to individuals and their family members involved in exam question paper leak cases. The plea also calls for invoking various anti-corruption and financial crime acts against perpetrators and suggests consecutive sentencing for such offences.
A special court granted bail to dismissed police officer Sachin Waze in the 2021 Antilia bomb scare case, severely criticising the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for its failure to establish a prima facie case of terrorism and for not recording statements of the alleged targets, Mukesh Ambani's family. The NIA has challenged the bail order in the Bombay High Court.
A Gurugram court has sentenced an irrigation department executive engineer and a computer operator to four years' imprisonment each in a corruption case registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in December 2022.
