CBI Busts Rs3 Lakh Bribery Case: Deputy Registrar of NCLT Mumbai Among Those Arrested

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a deputy registrar of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in Mumbai and an individual in connection with a Rs3.30 lakh bribery case. The arrests followed a complaint alleging that the tribunal official demanded a bribe to influence proceedings in a long-running hotel ownership dispute.

According to the CBI, the complainant, a hotel owner, had approached the agency alleging that he was being coerced into paying a bribe to secure a favorable outcome in a company petition pending before NCLT's Mumbai bench since 2020. The case was filed under Sections 241, 242, and 447 of the Companies Act, 2013, and involves allegations of fraudulent share transfers, financial mismanagement, and attempts to shut down the hotel business.

CBI officials stated that the deputy registrar of NCLT allegedly demanded Rs3.5 lakh from the complainant on 11 May 2025, claiming he could use his 'contacts' in the tribunal to influence the matter and have it resolved in the complainant’s favor. Acting on the complaint, CBI registered a case on 14 May 2025 and laid a trap.

On Wednesday, the individual acting on behalf of the deputy registrar was caught red-handed while accepting Rs3 lakh, of which Rs1 lakh was in real currency and the remaining amount was provided as dummy notes for evidentiary purposes. Following the trap, the deputy registrar was also arrested after CBI confirmed that he had orchestrated the demand and had accepted the bribe through the intermediary.

Search operations were also carried out at the residences and premises of both accused individuals in Mumbai and Lucknow, yielding evidence suspected to be linked to the larger modus operandi. CBI has produced both accused before the Competent Court in Mumbai today and is seeking five days of police custody to probe the case further and uncover any wider conspiracy or network involved.

“The investigation is continuing,” CBI said in a statement, indicating that more revelations could follow as the agency delves deeper into the roles of other possible actors in the alleged bribery ring. The arrests come amid growing concern over integrity in quasi-judicial tribunals, particularly those dealing with high-stakes corporate litigation under India’s evolving insolvency and company law frameworks.

The CBI’s proactive approach in this case underscores the agency's commitment to upholding the integrity of judicial and quasi-judicial bodies. The implications of this case highlight the need for stringent measures to prevent and punish corruption in the legal system, ensuring that justice is not compromised by unethical practices.