A Delhi court has granted bail to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official accused of stealing Rs 1 lakh during a search operation at the residence of a private individual. The bail order, dated June 25, was issued by Special Judge Chhavi Kapoor, who noted that the investigation had been completed and all material witnesses had been examined. The alleged stolen amount had already been recovered, the court observed.
Case Details and Evidence
According to the prosecution, the accused was a member of a CBI search team during a raid on the premises of a private person. It was alleged that he stole Rs 1 lakh and later hid the money under the mat of a vehicle. An independent public witness reportedly saw the accused hiding the money, and the prosecution further claimed that the accused admitted his guilt before other CBI officials following the recovery.
The court noted that all essential electronic evidence had been seized and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis. Additionally, the statement of the independent public witness had been recorded. The court observed that no further custodial interrogation was required as the material aspects of the investigation had been completed.
Bail Conditions
The court considered that the accused had been serving as a public servant in the CBI for several years and was not considered a flight risk. Bail was granted on a personal bond and surety bond of Rs 50,000 each. Conditions include that the accused must not leave the Delhi-NCR area, must not tamper with evidence or contact witnesses, must deposit his passport with the court, and must join the investigation when required.
Separate Case: Ex-GST Officer Granted Bail
In a related development, a Delhi court granted bail to former GST officer Ajit Singh, who is accused of facilitating the fraudulent release of GST refunds amounting to nearly Rs 5.50 crore, allegedly causing significant loss to the government exchequer. Special Judge Ruchi Aggarwal Asrani heard Singh’s bail application in a case registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB).
Allegations Against Singh
According to the prosecution, while serving as a GST officer, Singh allegedly issued 61 refund orders between March and August 2023 in violation of statutory provisions and departmental safeguards. Departmental scrutiny uncovered serious irregularities, including sanctioning refunds without proper verification, absence of mandatory financial checks, reliance on fabricated or computer-generated invoices, failure to verify business premises, processing refund claims within seven to 10 days instead of the prescribed 60-day period, and approving claims despite frequent changes in business addresses without adequate scrutiny.
The court's decision to grant bail in both cases reflects the completion of key investigative steps and the assessment that the accused do not pose a flight risk or a threat to the investigation.
