Mumbai, 03^rd January 2025

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Senior Research Officer from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 1 lakh. The officer was apprehended during a sting operation on January 1, 2025, after he was caught red-handed at his office in Naroji Nagar, New Delhi.

The accused reportedly demanded the bribe from the complainant, a license holder of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), Government of India, who operates cable services in Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh. The bribe was sought in exchange for favourable assessment of regulatory documents, including Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports (QPMRs) submitted by the complainant and other five cable operators from the region. In addition, the accused promised not to recommend the cancellation of the licenses to the Ministry of I&B.

As per TRAI guidelines, cable operators are required to submit QPMRs to TRAI for review. The accused officer, after assessing these documents, has the authority to recommend either approval or cancellation of licenses based on the findings.

Following the arrest, CBI conducted searches at the officer’s residential and official premises in Greater Noida and New Delhi, recovering incriminating documents.

An investigation into the case is ongoing.

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DL/PK

 

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