CBI has arrested the Joint Director of Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) red handed while taking a bribe of Rs 9.5 lakh. This action has created a stir in the government department. CBI has also recovered Rs 3.76 crore cash from the house of the Joint Director. It is being told that all this money has been taken as bribe.
According to CBI, accused Joint Director Rajaram Mohanrao Chennu is accused of taking bribe in exchange for issuing favorable test reports in favor of electrical equipment of a private company. It is being told that Atul Khanna, director of private company M/s Sudhir Group of Companies, has also been arrested in this case. CBI officials have started interrogating the accused. It is believed that other arrests may also be made in this case in the coming days.
CBI had registered an FIR in this regard on 8 January 2026. After confirming the complaint, the agency laid a trap and on January 9, taking action in Bengaluru, caught both the accused while accepting a bribe of Rs 9.5 lakh. After the arrest, CBI raided the residence of the Joint Director. During the search, about Rs 3.59 crore in cash was recovered from the house.
CBI has also recovered a large amount of foreign currency during the investigation, which includes US Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Singapore Dollar, Indonesian Rupiah, Malaysian Ringgit, Euro, Chinese Yuan, Swedish Krona and UAE Dirham. The value of these foreign currencies has been estimated at around Rs 4.05 lakh. According to CBI, till now a total of about Rs 3.76 crore (including cash and foreign currency) has been recovered in this case.
CBI Apprehenses Joint Director of Central Power Research Institute, Bengaluru in a Bribery Case of Rs. ₹9.5 Lakh pic.twitter.com/2mlK77pdNF
— Central Bureau of Investigation (India) (@CBIHeadquarters) January 9, 2026
According to CBI, along with this jewelery and many important documents have also been seized. The agency says that the raids and investigation are still going on and there may be more big revelations in this case in the coming days. This action once again seems to raise serious questions on the corruption prevalent in the government system. At present there is a stir in the Central Power Research Institute.
