Army Colonel Arrested by CBI in ₹50 Lakh Bribery Case Involving Defence Tenders
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended Colonel Himanshu Bali, an officer of the Army Ordnance Corps associated with the Eastern Command at Fort William, Kolkata. The arrest is linked to a ₹50 lakh bribery case concerning alleged manipulation of defense tenders.
As per the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the CBI on May 18, 2026, Colonel Bali stands accused of granting undue advantages to a defense supplier based in Kanpur, M/s Eastern Global Limited, in return for bribes. Allegations entail the manipulation of tender awards, approval of substandard sample products, and facilitation of the clearance of pending and inflated invoices.
The CBI has lodged a regular case against six individuals:
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Colonel Himanshu Bali | Army Ordnance Corps, Eastern Command, Kolkata |
| Shri Akshat Agrawal | Operator of M/s Eastern Global Limited, Kanpur |
| Shri Mayank Agrawal | Father of Akshat Agrawal, resident of Kanpur |
| Shri Ashutosh Shukla | Delhi-based associate and driver of Akshat Agrawal |
| Shri Naresh Pal | Resident of Delhi, alleged middleman |
| Other unknown individuals | Defense officials and private persons |
The charges are filed under the provisions of criminal conspiracy and Sections 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. The investigation is being led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar from the CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch-II, New Delhi.
Investigations suggest that Akshat and Mayank Agrawal allegedly maintained frequent communication with Colonel Bali to obtain undue advantages for their company through illegal means, in collaboration with other unidentified officials. Several tenders are purported to have been awarded to the firm by the Eastern Command in exchange for significant bribes.
Significant developments in the case include:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 22, 2026 | Colonel Bali and Akshat Agrawal reportedly met outside working hours in Park Street, Kolkata, to discuss tender matters. |
| April 24, 2026 | A major tender was allegedly awarded to M/s Eastern Global Limited due to undue favor granted by Colonel Bali. |
| May 16, 2026 | Colonel Bali contacted Akshat Agrawal demanding the pending bribe of ₹50 lakh, directing it to be paid in the Delhi-NCR region. |
| Unspecified | Arrangements were made to transfer approximately ₹50 lakh through hawala channels, to be collected from Chandni Chowk in Delhi and delivered to the middleman in Delhi-NCR. |
Colonel Himanshu Bali was detained by the CBI on May 19, 2026, in Kolkata. He is currently in custody under the Prevention of Corruption Act and is being transported to Delhi for further questioning. The CBI is continuing its investigation to identify any other officials potentially involved in the procurement irregularities.
M/s Eastern Global Limited has been recognized as a long-standing supplier of various items to defense establishments nationwide. The CBI has characterized the alleged activities as serious cognizable offenses.
To date, the Indian Army has not provided an official statement on the matter. The CBI has announced that the investigation is ongoing to fully reveal the scope of the alleged conspiracy and any additional beneficiaries involved.
