CBI Uncovers Major Bribery Scandal Involving Central Power Research Institute Officials

CBI Arrests Joint Director in Bribery Case

New Delhi: On Friday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended Rajaram Mohanrao Chennu, a Joint Director at the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) in Bengaluru, in connection with a bribery scandal involving Rs 9.5 lakh, according to officials.

During a search of his home, investigators uncovered a substantial amount of cash totaling over Rs 3.59 crore, along with foreign currencies such as US Dollars, Hong Kong Dollars, Singapore Dollars, Indonesian Rupiah, Malaysian Ringgit, Euros, Yuan (Renmin), Swedish Krona, and UAE Dirhams, valued at over Rs 4 lakh.

Chennu is accused of engaging in corrupt practices by accepting bribes to issue favorable quality assessment reports for electrical equipment manufactured by the Sudhir Group of Companies at CPRI's High Power Lab in Bengaluru.

CPRI operates as an autonomous entity under the Ministry of Power, responsible for testing and certifying electrical equipment.

The agency also detained Atul Khanna, the director of the company, in relation to the bribery investigation.

Following the filing of the FIR, the CBI set up a sting operation that led to the arrest of Chennu and a private company executive while they were in the process of exchanging the bribe amount of Rs 9.5 lakh on January 9, 2026, in Bengaluru, as stated by a CBI spokesperson.

The FIR indicates that Chennu allegedly solicited a bribe of Rs 10 lakh for the testing of the company's equipment at CPRI.

Khanna conferred with the company's Joint Managing Director, Rahul Seth, and they agreed to send Rs 14 lakh to Bengaluru for distribution among Chennu and other officials involved in the testing.

The bribe was reportedly funneled through a hawala network and was collected by Mallikarjuna Reddy Yartha, who serves as the General Manager of Design at the company in Bengaluru on December 30, 2025, according to the FIR.

Yartha confirmed to Khanna that he had received Rs 14 lakh, which was intended for CPRI officials, as alleged. The agency has also included Yartha and Seth in its FIR.

To date, the searches have resulted in the recovery of Rs 3.76 crore in cash, including foreign currency, with investigations ongoing, the spokesperson noted.