The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against Munitions India Limited Executive Director Anil Kumar and five others over alleged bribery and the leakage of sensitive defence procurement information linked to an ammunition supply contract worth about Rs 500 crore, according to a report by Pudhari – Pune.
The case concerns alleged dealings involving the Pune-based government defence company and private firm SMPP Limited. The CBI is examining whether information related to military procurement was allegedly shared with the private company and used to secure the contract. The agency is also investigating whether money changed hands in return for access to the information and influence over the procurement process.
The CBI conducted searches at locations linked to the suspects in Pune, Mysuru, Bengaluru and Delhi. During a search at Anil Kumar’s residence in Pune, the agency reportedly recovered cash running into crores of rupees and documents connected with the case. The source of the seized money and its possible connection with the alleged bribery network are now under investigation.
The other accused named in the case include SMPP Limited Chief Executive Officer Ashish Kansal and company employee Ravith Kumar Tewatia. The CBI alleges that Kansal was involved in offering a bribe to obtain the ammunition contract, while Tewatia allegedly acted as an intermediary between the parties.
The case also names B. Harshavardhan, identified as Anil Kumar’s brother, and Chetanashree, identified as his wife. The agency suspects that relatives may have helped conceal alleged illicit funds or assets. Investigators are examining their precise role, along with the possible involvement of intermediaries or an angadia cash-transfer network.
The allegations have implications beyond the suspected financial transaction because the matter involves a state-owned defence manufacturer and information related to military procurement. The CBI is examining whether Anil Kumar allegedly misused his official position, how procurement-related information reached the private company, and whether other officials or private individuals were involved.
Munitions India Limited is part of India’s government-controlled defence manufacturing system, making procurement integrity and information security central to the investigation. The reported recovery of cash and documents is expected to help investigators trace the movement of funds and establish whether the alleged payments were connected to the contract.
The accused have not been convicted, and the allegations will be tested during the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings. The CBI’s next steps include questioning the accused, analysing the seized documents and cash, tracing the alleged financial transactions, and determining the wider network involved in the suspected contract-related bribery.
