CBI arrests SFIO deputy director, advocate in ₹1 crore DHFL bribery case
Synopsis
An SFIO deputy director tasked with probing the DHFL scam has been arrested by the CBI for allegedly demanding ₹1 crore in bribes from a complainant tied to that very investigation. The case exposes a troubling fault line: the very officials entrusted with examining corporate fraud are themselves accused of exploiting the process for personal gain.
Key Takeaways
The CBI arrested Harish Kumar Tanwar , Deputy Director at SFIO's Chennai office , on 15 October 2026 .
Also arrested: Delhi advocate Bharat Sharma and his relative Aryan Sharma .
The trio allegedly demanded ₹1 crore for favourable treatment in the DHFL scam investigation.
Advocate Bharat Sharma was caught accepting ₹20 lakh as a first instalment in a CBI-laid trap.
Searches at the accused's premises yielded incriminating material, the CBI said.
All three remain under investigation; no response from the accused or their counsel has been recorded.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 15 October 2026 arrested Harish Kumar Tanwar, a 2017-batch Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officer serving as Deputy Director at the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)'s Chennai office, along with Delhi-based advocate Bharat Sharma and his relative Aryan Sharma, in connection with an alleged ₹1 crore bribe demand linked to the ongoing DHFL scam investigation. The arrests follow a trap laid by the CBI after it received and verified a formal complaint.
How the Trap Was Laid
According to the CBI, the agency registered a First Information Report after verifying the complainant's allegation that the three accused had sought ₹1 crore in exchange for favourable treatment in an SFIO investigation. Investigators then set a trap, arresting the trio after advocate Bharat Sharma allegedly accepted ₹20 lakh from the complainant as an instalment of the total demanded amount. The CBI alleged that Sharma received the money for and on behalf of Tanwar.
Who Is Harish Kumar Tanwar
Tanwar is a 2017-batch IRS (Income Tax) officer posted at the SFIO's Chennai office. The SFIO, which functions under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, was examining a matter connected to the DHFL scam — one of India's largest alleged corporate fraud cases involving the now-defunct Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited. The alleged bribe demand, according to the agency, concerned assistance to the complainant in that very investigation.
Searches and Recoveries
Following the arrests, the CBI conducted searches at premises associated with both Tanwar and Bharat Sharma. The agency stated that investigators recovered incriminating material during these searches, though it did not disclose the nature or details of the seized items. The specific role allegedly played by Aryan Sharma — identified only as a relative of the advocate — was also not elaborated upon in the agency's statement.
What Remains Under Investigation
The CBI noted that the precise favour sought by the complainant in the SFIO investigation was not detailed in its public statement. The agency also did not release any response from the accused or their legal representatives. Notably, the three accused were initially identified by their roles before names were released in response to media queries — a procedural pattern that has drawn scrutiny in past high-profile bribery arrests. The allegations against all three remain subject to ongoing investigation and judicial scrutiny.
Context: The DHFL Scam
The DHFL scam is among the most consequential financial fraud cases in recent Indian history, involving alleged diversion of funds worth thousands of crores from a major housing finance company. The SFIO has been one of several agencies probing the case alongside the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI itself. This arrest adds a new layer to that investigation — an alleged attempt from within the investigative machinery to monetise the process.
Point of View
It undermines not just this case but the credibility of every SFIO investigation in progress. The ₹1 crore demand is a relatively modest figure by the scale of the DHFL fraud, which makes the alleged act all the more brazen. What the CBI has not yet addressed — and what courts will eventually press on — is whether the complainant was genuinely wronged or was seeking to influence a legitimate investigation, and what that says about the SFIO process itself.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the CBI arrested in the DHFL bribery case?
The CBI arrested Harish Kumar Tanwar , a 2017-batch IRS officer and Deputy Director at SFIO's Chennai office, along with Delhi advocate Bharat Sharma and Bharat's relative Aryan Sharma on 15 October 2026 .
What was the alleged bribe demand in the SFIO case?
The three accused allegedly demanded ₹1 crore from a complainant in exchange for favourable treatment in the SFIO's ongoing DHFL scam investigation. Advocate Bharat Sharma was caught accepting ₹20 lakh as an instalment in a CBI trap.
What is the SFIO and why is it involved in the DHFL scam?
The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is a multi-disciplinary agency under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs that probes serious corporate fraud. It has been one of several bodies — alongside the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate — investigating the DHFL scam , one of India's largest alleged housing finance frauds.
What did the CBI find during searches after the arrest?
The CBI conducted searches at premises associated with Harish Kumar Tanwar and Bharat Sharma , recovering what it described as incriminating material. The agency did not publicly disclose the specific nature or value of the seized items.
What happens next in this case?
The CBI has said the investigation is underway. The allegations against all three accused remain subject to further investigation and judicial scrutiny. No response from the accused or their legal representatives has been recorded publicly.
