CBI books two PCDA officials, contractual worker in bribery case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Pune has arrested two officials from the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Southern Command) office and a contractual worker for allegedly accepting bribes from contractors, according to a recently filed First Information Report (FIR). The investigation was initiated following a complaint lodged by an Additional Controller of Defence Accounts and Vigilance Officer in the office.

The accused individuals identified are Subhash Kumar, an Assistant Accounts Officer; Urvashi Kumawat, an Auditor; and Adinaath Dattatray Poplakar, a contractual worker. The FIR also names unidentified public servants and private entities.

The accused are alleged to have conspired to obtain unfair benefits from contractors dealing with the PCDA (Southern Command). The investigation alleges that Poplakar acted as an intermediary, collecting and transferring money to the accused officials. The complaint pertains to three contractors awarded contracts worth roughly Rs 1.22 crore in total.

Poplakar is accused of receiving Rs 2.72 lakh from the three contractors, which he subsequently transferred to Kumawat and Kumar. The CBI has noted that Poplakar's bank accounts showed transactions of Rs 14.46 lakh and Rs 14.95 lakh respectively between April 2024 and June 2025, raising suspicions of misuse. The CBI has also questioned irregularities in the procurement of various equipment between 2022-23 and 2024-25, finding violations of financial and defence procurement rules.

The FIR alleges that Kumar's official position was abused, resulting in a wrongful loss to the government but corresponding gains to favored private entities. The CBI has registered the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with an investigation being handled by an inspector of the CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch.