Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials whom had arrested a Rahul Malik, a sub-Inspector of Delhi Police, Cyber Police Station, Rohini, New Delhi for allegedly demanding and accepting Bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh as a part payment of bribe through layers of multiple hawala operators based in Mumbai, Erode (TN) and New Delhi, on Friday claimed that the accused officer tried tried to destroy evidence by throwing mobile phones used by him in open area.
He also tried to run from PS Cyber Cell Rohini when he came to know about the visit of CBI team and after chasing for some distance he was caught by CBI team. His two mobile phones were recovered from an open area and it was also found that he had already deleted some incriminating WhatsApp messages. It was also found that he had collected huge amount of cash through Hawala Channels on earlier occasions also.
According to the CBI sources, as per complaint of a Mumbai resident for demand of undue advantage of Rs 14 lakhs by accused Rahul Malik in conspiracy with others.
On 19.03.2025, one Pankaj having had accepted bribe of Rs 2.5 lakhs in Mumbai from the complainant on behalf of Rahul Malik and during investigation incriminating material related to demand and acceptance of bribe money by accused Rahul Malik from the complainant has been found in the form of WhatsApp and telegram chats.
It is also revealed from his WhatsApp chats that he had collected bribe through Hawala on other occasions also. During scrutiny of the recovered mobile phones of Rahul Malik, incriminating chats related to this offence as well as involvement of accused Rahul Malik in other hawala transactions were found, agency sources said.
While seeking Malik’s custody in a Mumbai court, the CBI stated, “This is a case of larger conspiracy in which the accused used to collect bribe money through hawala channels by multiple layers, by abusing his official position and intimidation, and hence, he needs to be examined in police custody thoroughly. The accused is a senior police officer and holds a crucial position in the department. The accused, by virtue of his post in the department, is a very influential personality and has the capability to influence the witnesses and tamper the evidence. He has already deleted some incriminating messages.”
A case was registered by CBI on the basis of a written complaint against Malik and other unknown persons. “It is alleged that complainant operates a tours and travels business from Mumbai and had business relations with a private company related to Cash Management System (CMS). Later, it was also learnt by the complainant that his login credentials provided to him by a private company for virtual wallets were created under a fake name. The matter related to the private company was under investigation in an FIR lodged at the Cyber Police Station, Rohini, Delhi,” said a CBI official.
“It is alleged further that the accused had issued notice to the brother-in-law of the complainant who joined the investigation and when they appeared before him for investigation, the accused threatened to arrest them. It is further alleged that on 7th March 2025, accused SI Malik visited the residence of complainant at Navi Mumbai and demanded a bribe of ₹50 lakhs to clear his and his brother-in-law’s name from the case or else threatened that they would be arrested. On 8th March 2025, the accused asked the complainant to meet him at a Hotel at Ghodbunder Road, Mumbai. It was also alleged that when the complainant visited said hotel and met accused SI, he again threatened the complainant and demanded a bribe by typing an amount of Rs 16 lakh on his mobile. Later, when the complainant along with his lawyer visited Cyber PS Rohini, the accused threatened of consequences, if a bribe was not paid to him,” the official said.
After negotiation, the accused agreed to accept a bribe of Rs.14 lakh and told the complainant that he will share the details of persons to whom the bribe was to be delivered. During further proceedings, the complainant received the details of hawala token number, the number of a hawala operator at Mumbai to whom the bribe amount was to be given.
Accordingly, on 19.03.2025, a successful trap was laid by CBI in which a hawala operator accepted bribe of Rs. 2.5 lakh at Mumbai on the behalf of public servants as a part bribe payment through layers of multiple hawala operators based in Mumbai, Erode (TN) and New Delhi.
