CBI arrests top executives of major conglomerate in drone import bribery case

The CBI has arrested Bharat Mathur, senior vice-president of a major conglomerate and deputy director of the Civil Aviation Authority, in connection with an alleged bribe of Rs 2.50 lakh for importing drones to another private company, officials said on Sunday.In an operation on Saturday, the CBI arrested Mathur and Mudavath Devula, deputy director, airworthiness bureau, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), New Delhi headquarters.The CBI spokesperson said in a statement that the accused DGCA public servants allegedly solicited undue benefits from private individuals instead of issuing approvals and clearances for a private aerospace company’s pending application with the DGCA.“The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested the Deputy Director, Airworthiness Directorate, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), New Delhi headquarters, and a representative of a private company in a bribery case involving Rs 2.5 lakh and seized the entire amount,” it said.The statement added that the CBI conducted searches at the residences of the accused civil servants and other private individuals at four locations in Delhi and seized cash worth Rs 37 lakh along with gold and silver coins and various digital devices.