CBI arrests DGMS Deputy Director, two others in ₹3 lakh mining bribery sting
Synopsis
A CBI sting in Ongole has exposed an alleged bribery scheme inside India's mining safety apparatus: a senior DGMS official was caught red-handed accepting ₹2 lakh to whitewash a fatal quarry accident in Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam District. The case suggests the inquiry process following mining deaths may be systematically for sale.
Key Takeaways
The CBI arrested three accused, including a Deputy Director (Mining), DGMS, Hyderabad-III Region , on 18 August 2026 .
The arrests stem from a fatal accident at a mining quarry in Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh on 25 June 2026 .
The accused official allegedly sought bribes to deliver a favourable inquiry report shielding the quarry owners.
The middleman had earlier paid ₹1 lakh ; the CBI trapped the official while he accepted a further ₹2 lakh at Ongole .
Searches are under way at premises in Ongole , Kadapa , and Hyderabad ; the accused will be produced before a court in Vijayawada .
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday, 18 August 2026, arrested three individuals — including a Deputy Director (Mining) of the Directorate General of Mining Safety (DGMS), Hyderabad-III Region, South Central Zone — in connection with an alleged bribery scheme linked to a fatal mining accident in Andhra Pradesh. The agency caught the official red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh at Ongole.
The Fatal Accident That Triggered the Case
According to the CBI, a fatal accident occurred on 25 June 2026 at a mining quarry in Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh. Following the incident, representatives of the concerned mining establishment allegedly approached the Deputy Director through a consultant acting as a middleman, seeking a favourable inquiry report that would shield the quarry owners from implication.
The middleman had reportedly already paid ₹1 lakh as an initial instalment of the undue advantage to the Deputy Director ahead of the trap operation.
How the CBI Laid the Trap
Intelligence gathered by the CBI indicated that a further sum of ₹2 lakh was to be delivered at Ongole on 17 August 2026. The payment was allegedly meant to cover both a favourable report in the fatal accident inquiry and alleged quarterly bribe payments linked to the private mining establishment and other mines in its portfolio.
The CBI set up a trap and caught the Deputy Director red-handed while he accepted the ₹2 lakh from the consultant/middleman, with a representative of the private mining establishment present. The bribe amount was recovered on the spot during the trap proceedings.
Who Was Arrested
The three accused arrested by the CBI are: the Deputy Director (Mining), DGMS, Hyderabad-III Region; a consultant/middleman who allegedly facilitated the payments; and a representative of the private mining establishment. The CBI has also registered the case against other unknown public servants and private individuals.
Searches and Next Steps
Following the arrests, the CBI conducted searches at premises linked to the accused in Ongole, Kadapa, and Hyderabad. The three accused are to be produced before the competent court at Vijayawada. Investigation in the case is ongoing, the agency confirmed.
This case adds to a pattern of CBI scrutiny over mining safety officials, where accident inquiries have allegedly been weaponised for rent-seeking. With searches still under way, further arrests cannot be ruled out.
Point of View
The deterrent value of post-accident investigations collapses entirely, leaving workers at risk. The DGMS has faced questions about enforcement capacity for years; this case suggests the problem may run deeper than capacity. The CBI's reference to 'quarterly bribe payments' implies a structured, ongoing arrangement rather than a one-off transaction — a detail that warrants scrutiny of how many past accident reports from this region have been similarly compromised.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the CBI arrest the DGMS Deputy Director?
The CBI arrested the Deputy Director (Mining) of DGMS, Hyderabad-III Region, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh to produce a favourable inquiry report in a fatal mining accident case in Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh. The official was caught red-handed during a CBI trap operation at Ongole on 17 August 2026.
What was the fatal accident linked to this bribery case?
A fatal accident occurred on 25 June 2026 at a mining quarry in Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh. Representatives of the mining establishment allegedly approached the DGMS official through a middleman to ensure the official inquiry report would not implicate the quarry owners.
How much bribe was allegedly paid in total?
According to the CBI, the middleman had earlier paid ₹1 lakh as an initial payment, and a further ₹2 lakh was delivered during the trap operation — bringing the total alleged bribe to ₹3 lakh. The ₹2 lakh recovered during the trap is also meant to cover alleged quarterly payments linked to multiple mines.
Who are the three accused arrested by the CBI?
The three accused are the Deputy Director (Mining) of DGMS, Hyderabad-III Region; a consultant who acted as a middleman; and a representative of the private mining establishment. The CBI has also registered the case against other unidentified public servants and private individuals.
What happens next in the case?
The three arrested accused are to be produced before the competent court in Vijayawada. CBI searches are continuing at premises in Ongole, Kadapa, and Hyderabad, and the agency has said investigation is ongoing, leaving open the possibility of further arrests.
