Delhi-based bureaucrat probing DHFL fraud arrested for seeking Rs 1 crore bribe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Harish Kumar Tanwar, a Deputy Director-level officer of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer from the 2017 batch, along with a Delhi-based advocate and another private individual, in a Rs 1 crore bribery case linked to the investigation into alleged financial irregularities at Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL).The other arrested accused are Bharat Sharma, an advocate, and Aryan Sharma, a relative of Bharat Sharma. Tanwar, who belongs to the Income Tax cadre, is currently posted as Deputy Director at the SFIO in Chennai and was the investigating officer in the DHFL-related case.The CBI registered the case after Gopal Shivram Dalvi submitted a written complaint on October 12, 2026, alleging that Tanwar, Bharat Sharma and others had demanded a bribe of Rs 1 crore. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly threatened Dalvi with arrest and prosecution in connection with the SFIO's investigation into the DHFL scam.The CBI verified the allegations in the presence of independent witnesses on October 12 and 13. The verification disclosed an alleged demand for a bribe by Tanwar and Bharat Sharma.According to the CBI's verification, Sharma directed Dalvi to deliver Rs 20 lakh to him on October 13 as part payment of the total demanded bribe of 1 crore. Sharma allegedly agreed to receive the money on Tanwar's behalf.After verifying the complaint and registering a case, the CBI laid a trap and arrested the three accused after Sharma received 20 lakh from the complainant. The agency also conducted searches at the premises of Tanwar and Sharma, during which it recovered incriminating material related to the case.The CBI registered the case against Tanwar, Sharma and other unknown public servants and private individuals under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. The offences include criminal conspiracy, bribery involving a public servant, and taking undue advantage to influence a public servant through corrupt or illegal means or by exercising personal influence.The CBI has entrusted the investigation to Shakti Kumar, an inspector with its Anti-Corruption Branch-III in New Delhi. The investigation remains in progress.Meanwhile, a senior IRS officer posted at the SFIO has come under the CBI's scanner in connection with the alleged bribery demand, sources said.The senior officer, who also belongs to the Income Tax cadre, was questioned by CBI officials because of his supervisory role in the matter. Sources said the questioning concerned the alleged bribe demand made by Tanwar and the other accused.The process to repatriate the senior IRS officer has also been initiated, sources said.The bribery case is linked to the SFIO's investigation into alleged financial irregularities at DHFL, which has faced scrutiny from multiple central investigative agencies since 2018.The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate were among the agencies investigating the company and its promoters. The SFIO subsequently launched its own probe into suspected financial irregularities and fund diversion at the housing finance firm.In November 2019, the Centre issued an order directing the SFIO to investigate the allegations following an examination by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs through the Registrar of Companies.The SFIO began examining suspected fund diversion at DHFL in 2019 after allegations emerged that the company had siphoned off bank loan funds through layers of shell entities.The company and its promoters have faced multiple cases involving alleged financial irregularities, money laundering and the illegal diversion of funds amounting to more than Rs 34,000 crore.As part of its investigation, the SFIO recorded statements from DHFL promoter Kapil Wadhawan and his brother Dheeraj Wadhawan to examine the alleged financial irregularities. A Mumbai court had granted the agency permission to examine the two brothers.The SFIO functions under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and investigates suspected corporate fraud and violations under the Companies Act. The agency has statutory powers to investigate specified corporate offences and arrest accused persons under the relevant legal provisions.The current CBI case concerns allegations that an SFIO investigating officer and others demanded Rs 1 crore from a complainant in exchange for allegedly favouring him in the DHFL investigation.The CBI is continuing its investigation into the alleged bribery, including the role of the arrested accused and any other public servants who may have been involved.- Ends