CBI arrests CPRI Joint director in ₹9.5 lakh bribery case, ₹3.76 Cr cash seized

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested Rajaram Mohanrao Chennu , Joint Director of the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Bengaluru, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹9.5 lakh to issue favourable quality certification reports for electrical equipment.

Chennu was caught red-handed in a trap laid by the agency at Bengaluru , where he was allegedly receiving the bribe from representatives of a private firm. Following the arrest, the CBI conducted searches at his residence and other locations, recovering cash and foreign currency worth approximately ₹3.76 crore , including US Dollars, Hong Kong Dollars, Singapore Dollars, Euros, UAE Dirhams, Chinese Yuan, Swedish Krona, Indonesian Rupiah and Malaysian Ringgit.

According to the CBI, Chennu abused his official position at the High Power Laboratory of CPRI , one of India’s premier centres for high-voltage electrical research, testing and certification . CPRI, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Power , plays a critical role in certifying transformers, circuit breakers, insulators and other high-voltage equipment used in power transmission and distribution networks across the country.

The FIR alleges that Chennu demanded a bribe of ₹10 lakh for clearing high-voltage electrical equipment manufactured by the Sudhir Group of Companies , which was undergoing mandatory quality and safety tests at CPRI’s Bengaluru facility. These tests are crucial as certified equipment is deployed in substations and power grids, directly impacting public safety and infrastructure reliability.

CBI officials said the company director, Atul Khanna , was also arrested in connection with the case. As per the investigation, Khanna discussed the bribe demand with the company’s Joint Managing Director, Rahul Seth , following which ₹14 lakh was arranged to be distributed among Chennu and other officials allegedly involved in the testing process.

The money was allegedly routed through hawala channels and collected in Bengaluru by Mallikarjuna Reddy Yartha , the company’s General Manager (Design), on December 30, 2025. Yartha later confirmed receiving the amount, which was meant to be paid to officials handling the certification process, the FIR stated. Yartha and Seth have also been named as accused in the case.

“After registration of the FIR, the CBI laid a trap and apprehended the Joint Director of CPRI along with an executive of the private company while transacting the bribe amount of ₹9.5 lakh on January 9, 2026,” a CBI spokesperson said, adding that searches are still underway.

Chennu, a senior technical officer with years of experience in high-voltage testing and certification, held significant decision-making authority in approving test results, an area that has long been viewed as vulnerable due to high discretion, limited external audits and pressure from manufacturers seeking faster clearances .

While there is no immediate confirmation of previous cases involving Chennu, vigilance officials note that testing and certification institutions, including those under the power sector, have faced corruption allegations in the past, exposing systemic loopholes such as opaque testing processes and inadequate oversight.

The latest arrest has once again raised concerns over the integrity of quality certification mechanisms in critical infrastructure sectors, where compromised approvals could pose serious safety and economic risks.