Photo for representation
The other two arrested officials BR Anil Kumar, the executive director of Munitions India Limited, and his brother Harshavardhan are also in judicial custody.
The judge noted that the investigating officer had sought judicial custody as the investigation was continuing. After perusing the remand application and hearing both sides, the court remanded Kansal in judicial custody. The remand order also recorded that the accused had no complaint of ill-treatment by CBI officers.
Pune: A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Pune on Friday remanded businessman Ashish Kansal in judicial custody till Nov 4 in connection with an alleged bribery case involving contracts linked to the country’s defence sector. Kansal was produced before the court at 2.45pm on Oct 23. Therefore we are investigating each aspects related to those who are linked or associated with this order and talks from the beginning,” the sources added.
“This big deal won’t happen without the involvement of multiple stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the CBI sources said the investigation is on the right track and the involvement of other senior officials is being investigated closely. Special Judge R R Mendhe of the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), Pune, passed the order after hearing the investigating agency’s application seeking judicial remand. “The offences levelled against the accused are serious and non-bailable. The investigation is still going on,” the court observed while ordering his remand to judicial custody. The development comes amid the CBI’s investigation into an alleged bribery network involving the procurement of defence-related contracts. The agency is probing allegations that bribes worth crores of rupees were paid to secure contracts associated with the defence establishment. The case has drawn attention to alleged irregularities in the awarding of contracts involving Munitions India Ltd, a defence public sector undertaking, and a private firm. The CBI has been investigating the alleged role of officials and private individuals in the purported arrangement. The agency is also examining whether other contracts awarded to the private firm require scrutiny as part of the wider investigation.