Haryana Cadre IPS Officer Deepak Gehlawat Summoned by CBI in Alleged ₹3 Crore Bribery Case Linked to Fake Drug Scam

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A senior Haryana cadre IPS officer serving in a key aviation regulatory position has come under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation in a corruption case that is rapidly widening beyond its original scope and drawing attention across administrative and law enforcement circles.

The CBI has issued a notice to 2012-batch IPS officer Deepak Gehlawat, currently posted as Regional Director in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, asking him to appear for questioning in connection with allegations that he sought a ₹3 crore bribe from an accused involved in a massive fake medicines scam. Investigators are examining claims that the officer allegedly promised to use his influence and contacts to secure relief from an ongoing CBI probe in exchange for money.

The allegations are linked to the purported ₹5,000 crore counterfeit and spurious drugs racket that surfaced in Puducherry and triggered one of the country’s most closely watched pharmaceutical fraud investigations. The case involves accusations of manufacturing and distributing fake medicines through an organised network that allegedly operated across multiple jurisdictions.

According to the FIR registered by the CBI on June 8, the agency suspects that a group of individuals conspired to exploit perceived influence within investigative and enforcement agencies to manipulate the course of ongoing inquiries. The FIR names the alleged kingpin of the fake medicines case, N. Raja alias Rajasekhar, along with Delhi Police Inspector Pradeep Kumar Singh and an alleged middleman identified as Rajkumar alias Madhanraj. The agency has also included unknown public servants and private individuals in the case as investigators continue to map the full network.

Investigators believe the accused approached individuals claiming they could arrange favourable treatment in exchange for substantial payments. The allegations against Gehlawat stem from claims that he projected access to influential contacts capable of affecting the investigation and used those assertions to seek financial consideration from the principal accused.

CBI officials are now attempting to establish whether those claims translated into any actual abuse of position or misuse of official influence. The agency is examining communication records, financial trails and possible links between intermediaries and public officials to determine whether the alleged promises were genuine, exaggerated or entirely fabricated for monetary gain.

The investigation has also brought alleged hawala channels into focus. According to sources familiar with the probe, investigators suspect that nearly ₹1 crore may already have been routed through informal financial networks as part of the alleged arrangement. Tracking the movement of those funds and identifying the recipients has become one of the central objectives of the inquiry.

Financial investigators are reportedly analysing transaction patterns and communication exchanges to establish whether the money changed hands as part of a coordinated conspiracy. Officials believe the financial trail could reveal the extent of involvement of multiple actors and potentially uncover additional layers of influence peddling.

The summons issued to Gehlawat does not amount to a declaration of guilt or criminal liability. At this stage, the IPS officer has been called to explain his alleged role and respond to the claims being examined by investigators. The CBI is expected to question him on the nature of his interactions with the accused individuals, the existence of any financial transactions and the circumstances under which his name surfaced during the probe.

The development has also prompted communication between the investigating agency and the officer’s parent department as part of standard procedural requirements. Such coordination becomes particularly important in cases involving serving senior officials, where departmental records and service details may form part of the investigative process.

Legal experts say the consequences could be severe if the allegations are substantiated with evidence. Charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, criminal conspiracy provisions and bribery-related offences carry significant legal and professional implications for public servants found guilty of abusing their position or influence.

The case has generated wider interest because it touches upon one of the most sensitive issues in governance — the alleged use of official stature and institutional connections for private gain. Even allegations of influence peddling involving senior officers tend to attract intense public scrutiny because they raise questions about accountability within the higher ranks of public administration.

At the same time, legal observers caution against drawing conclusions before the investigation reaches its logical end. The CBI has not named Gehlawat as an accused in the FIR, and the agency itself has maintained that the investigation remains ongoing. The final assessment of his role, if any, will depend entirely on the evidence collected during questioning and forensic examination of financial and digital records.

For now, the case represents another significant test for investigators attempting to untangle a network that allegedly stretched from counterfeit pharmaceuticals to claims of access, influence and covert financial channels. With the probe expanding and new names emerging, the coming weeks are likely to determine whether the allegations remain accusations or evolve into one of the most consequential corruption cases involving a serving senior police officer in recent years.