The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against an Army officer posted with Eastern Command and five others over allegations of bribery, criminal conspiracy and irregularities in defence procurement and tender awards.Â
According to the FIR registered by CBI’s Anti-Corruption-II unit in New Delhi on 18th May, the case has been filed under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.Â
The accused named in the FIR include Colonel Himanshu Bali of the Army Ordnance Corps, Eastern Command, Fort William, Kolkata; Akshat Agrawal of Eastern Global Limited, Kanpur; Mayank Agrawal of Kanpur; Ashutosh Shukla, described as an associate of Akshat Agrawal; Naresh Pal; and other unidentified persons.Â
Sources told this newspaper that the agency received information that Colonel Bali, acting in connivance with private contractor Akshat Agrawal and others, was involved in corrupt practices involving demand and acceptance of illegal gratification in return for extending undue favours to the company.Â
These alleged favours included manipulation in the award of tenders, approval of substandard samples and clearance of pending and inflated bills.Â
Investigators alleged that Eastern Global Limited and its associated entities supplied various items to defence establishments across India and that Akshat Agrawal managed the operations of these firms.Â
Source and court documents states that the company allegedly maintained regular contact with the Army officer to secure favourable treatment in procurement decisions and that multiple tenders were awarded in exchange for alleged bribe payments.Â
According to officials, one specific instance relates to a tender awarded during March-April 2026. The agency has alleged that the award was linked to promised bribe payments and claimed that Akshat Agrawal and Colonel Bali met outside official working hours at Park Street in Kolkata on 22nd April to discuss the matter. The tender was subsequently awarded on 24th April.
It is further understood that on 16th May, Colonel Bali allegedly contacted Akshat Agrawal regarding the pending bribe amount and directed that payment be arranged in the Delhi-NCR region.Â
The agency has alleged that Ashutosh Shukla was asked to facilitate delivery of the amount to Naresh Pal. It further alleged that on 18th May arrangements were being made to deliver approximately Rs 50 lakh in Delhi, allegedly through hawala channels originating from Chandni Chowk.
