New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation Tuesday arrested a Colonel-rank officer of the Indian Army who allegedly manipulated tenders and approved substandard samples in lieu of bribes from a Kanpur-based defence supplier.
The officer, identified as Himanshu Bali, is posted to the Eastern Command of the Army Ordnance Corps, which plays a key role in supplying weapons and ammunition to the Eastern sector. He was arrested Tuesday in Kolkata, and is being brought to Delhi, a source in the agency said.
According to the FIR filed by the central agency under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Bali was allegedly in close association with Kanpur-based firm Eastern Global Limited and its proprietors: Akshat Agrawal and his father Mayank Agrawal.
The FIR, filed on source-based information, further states that the firm has been a long-term supplier for several defence establishments across the country, and the father-son duo have long maintained “regular contact” with Colonel Himanshu Bali of Eastern Command, Kolkata, for obtaining undue favours.
“These favours include manipulation in the award of tenders, approval of substandard samples, and clearance of pending and inflated bills,” the CBI FIR reads.
It has further been informed that multiple tenders have been awarded to their firms by Eastern Command. Kolkata, in exchange for substantial bribes paid to Colonel Himanshu Bali and other unknown officers, the FIR reads.
The CBI further documented that as part of the alleged deal the firm was awarded a tender in March-April this year, for which Colonel Bali sought a bribe during their meeting on Kolkata’s Park Street on 22 April this year. The contract was allegedly approved on 24 April.
“(A) Source has further informed that on 16.05.2026, Colonel Himanshu Bali contacted Shri Akshat Agrawal and reminded him about the bribe amount due as per prior commitment. directing that the same be delivered in the Delhi-NCR region,” the CBI FIR further reads.
However, Akshat expressed constraint due to “large amounts” being involved.
“On the same day, Colonel Himanshu Bali allegedly contacted Shri Ashutosh Shukla, driver/associate of Shri Akshat Agrawal, based in Delhi, and instructed him to ensure delivery of the bribe amount to Shri Naresh Pal without fail,” the FIR further said.
The CBI further documented that Akshat Agrawal was found to be arranging for Rs 50 lakh to be given to Bali through a middleman at Delhi’s Chandni Chowk.
“(The) source has further revealed that on 18.05.2026, Shri Akshat Agrawal was making arrangements for the delivery of approximately Rs. 50 lakh to Shri Naresh Pal in Delhi, towards the remaining bribe amount allegedly payable to Colonel Himanshu Bali.
“(The) source further informed that Shri Ashutosh Shukla was likely to collect the said amount from Chandni Chowk. Delhi, through hawala channels and delivers the same to Shri Naresh Pal at any time,” the CBI FIR read.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)