CBI superintendent probing ‘coalgate’ arrested for graft

Two officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation, India's top police agency – a superintendent of police and an inspector – have been arrested by their own agency for accepting bribes in connection with a land dispute in upmarket south Delhi.

The arrests were carried out by the CBI's internal intelligence unit, which says the cops – SP Vivek Dutt and Inspector Rajesh Karnatak – were caught virtually red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs7 lakh from a businessman. Two others have also been arrested in this connection.

Interestingly, Dutt is said to be a senior investigating officer in the alleged coal block allocations scam that has rocked Indian politics. That investigation is being carried out under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court.

The two cops were arrested outside the CBI's headquarters in New Delhi on Friday. The money was found on Dutt.

"We had information about the dealing and we continued to maintain surveillance on them. After monitoring them for pretty long, they were arrested for taking the bribe," CBI director Ranjit Sinha said today.

The duo was produced before a special CBI judge today. The CBI said it would move the Supreme Court on Monday seeking their dismissal.

Although the bribery is not connected with the coal case, the CBI cannot change its investigating officer without the court's permission.

Dutt heads the CBI's cyber cell, and is said to have passed a report favourable to the bribe giver in a case that was referred to the CBI by the Delhi Police.