Financial Frauds To Bribery: The Times When IAS, IPS Officers Broke The Law

Last Updated:July 03, 2026, 18:20 IST

A look at some of the prominent arrests over the past one year.

Several high-profile IAS and IPS officers have been arrested by central and state investigative agencies, primarily in connection with large-scale financial fraud, bribery, and corruption scandals.

A look at some of the prominent arrests over the past year.

IPS Officer Arrested in Rs 3-Crore Fake Drug Bribery Case

Deepak Gahlawat (2012-batch IPS, Haryana Cadre): Arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on July 1, 2026. Gahlawat was serving on central deputation as the Regional Director of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

He was arrested for allegedly demanding a Rs 3-crore bribe from a Puducherry-based businessman. Gahlawat allegedly promised to use his personal connections to influence and weaken an ongoing CBI investigation into a ₹5,000-crore counterfeit medicine manufacturing racket. The CBI arrested him following a hawala trail and a trap operation caught intermediaries (including a Delhi Police inspector) delivering a portion of the advance money.

Multi-Crore Haryana Bank Fraud

The CBI busted a massive Rs 661-crore banking scam involving the systematic embezzlement and diversion of Haryana government department funds through forged and non-existent Fixed Deposits (FDs). Three senior IAS officers have been arrested in connection with the scam.

Pardeep Kumar (IAS, Haryana Cadre): Arrested by the CBI in late June 2026, on the very day of his scheduled retirement. He is accused of directly facilitating the siphoning of Rs 169 crore from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) while serving as its Member Secretary. He had been evading the probe before being tracked down.

Pankaj Agarwal (IAS, Haryana Cadre): Arrested by the CBI in June 2026. Investigators allege that he played a critical role in the misappropriation of public funds, causing a direct loss of over Rs 60 crore to the state exchequer during his administrative tenures.

Ram Kumar Singh (2012-batch IAS): Arrested earlier by the CBI as a co-conspirator in the same multi-department bank fraud network.

Recent Suspensions and Crackdowns (May 2026)

In late May 2026, the Bihar government suspended two senior IAS officers following a Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) crackdown. A prominent contractor was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for allegedly sponsoring high-end international trips, airfares, and luxury stays for these bureaucrats in exchange for being awarded for lucrative government contracts.

IAS Officer Reinstated after Bribery Arrest

Dhiman Chakma (2021-batch IAS): While he was arrested in June 2025 after being caught red-handed accepting a Rs 10 lakh bribe from a stone-crusher businessman in Kalahandi, Odisha, his case remains a major point of public debate. During the initial raid, an additional Rs 47 lakh in unaccounted cash was recovered from his residence. After serving time in judicial custody and being granted bail, the Odisha government officially reinstated him to active service as Deputy Secretary in the Revenue Department, while the criminal corruption trial continues.

About the Author

Manjiri Joshi

At the news desk for 20 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci...Read More

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