Delhi Police officer sent to two-day CBI custody in bribery case

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The Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi has approved a two-day remand for Delhi Police sub-inspector Rajesh Yadav to be held by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning related to a bribery case.

Yadav was apprehended by the agency for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 4.5 lakh on behalf of another absconding accused, Sub Inspector Varun Chichi.

Special CBI judge Arun Bhardwaj has granted the Central Bureau of Investigation two days of custody for Rajesh Yadav, directing the agency to present the accused before the relevant court on November 16 at 2 PM.

The CBI had sought a three-day remand to recover evidence and effect the arrest of the co-accused, Varun.

Both individuals involved are Delhi Police officials who were stationed at Barakhamba Police Station in the national capital city New Delhi.

The court examined the transcript of an audio recording, noting that the accused had received the bribe and informed the co-accused that the amount was Rs 4.5 lakh, not Rs 5 lakh.

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CBI prosecutor Amjad Ali stated that Rajesh received the bribe money on behalf of Varun Chichi, who is currently evading arrest. A case under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered, and custodial interrogation is deemed necessary for evidence collection and the apprehension of the co-accused.

Advocate Dhananjay Rai, representing Rajesh Yadav, opposed the remand, arguing that there is no connection between Rajesh and Varun. Rai contended that the accused individuals merely shared a room, and Rajesh did not even accept the packet; he instructed the complainant to place it on a table.

In response, the CBI prosecutor countered, stating that the accused inspected the bribe money and then stored it in his almirah. The prosecutor emphasized that the accused also conversed with co-accused Varun, and all conversations were recorded. The court questioned whether the money was visible from the packet, to which the prosecutor confirmed that it was visible and placed in the almirah by the accused after receiving it. (With inputs from ANI)