Delhi CBI Court remands CBI officials, advocate to custody in case concerning bribery scam within agency

A Delhi CBI Court recently remanded CBI deputy superintendent of police, RK Rishi and Inspector Kapil Dhankad and advocate Manohar Malik to three-day police custody with the CBI in connection with a bribery scam within the agency. (CBI Vs. R.K. Sangwan & Others).As per the CBI case, the two CBI officials and the advocate, along with other known persons, were party to a criminal conspiracy to commit offences of offering/accepting undue advantage/bribe for compromising the integrity of investigations pending with the agency..On January 20, the two public servants i.e. CBI officials and the advocate were sent to police custody till January 25. On the expiry of this time period, the CBI sought an extension of their police remand on the ground that further interrogation was required to identify and recover the illegal gratification involved in the present case..It was also stated that the accused persons had to be confronted with the material and official/unauthorized documents recovered by the agency during the searches..Considering that the investigation was still at the nascent stage, Special CBI Judge SS Maan found it appropriate to exetnd the police remand with CBI for three more days. .The Court said, “In the facts and circumstances of the case, considering the gravity of offence, nature of allegations, type of documents seized and volume of the incriminating material, I am of the opinion that there is no other way to elucidate the larger conspiracy and the truth as to what transpired between the accused persons, but through custodial interrogation.Therefore, accused Rajiv Kumar Rishi, Kapil Dhanked and Manohar Malik are remanded to police custody for 03 days, during which period they shall be allowed to have meeting with their lawyer(s) or a family member for 30 minutes on each day between 4.00 PM to 6.00 PM.”.The Court acknowledged that although the liberty of a person was at stake, however, the investigating agency should also get a fair opportunity to investigate..The accused persons shall be produced before Court next on January 28..As per the CBI FIR in the case, certain CBI officials were receiving regular kickbacks for compromising investigations and also acted as conduits to bribe their peers on behalf of companies accused of siphoning off crores of public money from banks. .The FIR alleges commission of offences under Sections 120-B IPC and Sections 7, 7A, 8, 12 of Prevention of Corruption Act..Read the Order: