CBI Exposes Corruption in Government-Run HPCL, Sales Officer Held Taking ₹1 Lakh Bribe
Shimla/Chandrapur, January 19:
In yet another blow to corruption in public sector undertakings, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Sales Officer of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹1 lakh.
According to the CBI, the accused officer, posted in Chandrapur, had demanded ₹2 lakh from a complainant to facilitate the handover of an HPCL retail outlet to the complainant’s wife, who is the registered proprietor of the outlet.
The case was registered on January 16, 2026, following a written complaint. The complainant told the agency that he was unable to arrange the full amount at once, after which the officer allegedly agreed to accept ₹1 lakh as an initial payment. However, he insisted that the remaining amount must be paid after the work was completed.
Acting swiftly, the CBI laid a trap on January 17, 2026. The accused was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe of ₹1 lakh from the complainant.
The officer was immediately arrested, and further investigation is underway to ascertain whether more officials are involved in the bribery racket.
The arrest has once again exposed the deep-rooted corruption within government-run oil companies, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability in public sector operations.
