Chhattisgarh IPS officer faces bribery charge in CBI court probe
An IPS officer, Rahul Bansal, is accused of accepting a bribe to cover up a cyber fraud case. The Chhattisgarh DGP has submitted a report to a Delhi court as investigations expand into a multi-state fraud network with extensive money flows through cash, hawala and crypto.
Key takeaways
- Rahul Bansal faces bribery allegations linked to a cyber fraud investigation and has denied the charges.
- The case connects to a broader, multi-state cyber fraud network with extensive use of crypto, hawala, and fake trading platforms.
- An investigation led to 23 arrests; two named suspects remain absconding.
What Happened
The Chhattisgarh DGP, Arun Dev Gautam, has filed a report with a Delhi court connected to allegations that IPS officer Rahul Bansal and two others took a bribe to halt or cover up a cyber fraud investigation. Bansal has denied the allegations. The case traces to a Rs 21.15 lakh cyber fraud reported at Ambikapur Cyber Police Station in Chhattisgarh last year, involving 84 transactions on two fake trading platforms. A chargesheet against 23 people was filed last year by a team led by Bansal, a 2022-batch IPS officer. The Delhi court’s July 1 order notes that the complainant approached authorities after inaction by local police and the CBI. The inquiry reportedly uncovered a multi-state, internationally operated cyber-fraud network, resulting in 23 arrests across jurisdictions. Investigators say the complainant alleged a bribe of Rs 1.5 crore demanded by Bansal and two other policemen to stop the investigation, with Rs 1 crore reportedly paid.
Police described the fraud network as sophisticated and international, involving 38 fake trading portals used by 19,340 users, with operations spanning multiple states. They indicated the network used mule accounts, fintech gateways, hawala routes, and cryptocurrency to move proceeds overseas. An analysis of two platforms showed cryptocurrency-linked transactions surpassing Rs 1,880 crore over four months. The broader probe expanded into a large fintech money-laundering operation, with an investigation ledger showing Rs 601.90 crore in laundering movements within less than two months and gateway collections of Rs 275.41 crore in October 2025. Authorities said the network comprised separate layers for platform development, operation, account provisioning, payment processing, and money movement, including through cash, hawala, and crypto.
Why It Matters
The case links a high-ranking police official to interference allegations in a sprawling cyber-fraud investigation, highlighting concerns about accountability within law enforcement as a multi-state fraud network reportedly operated across international pathways. The scale of alleged money movement, including substantial cryptocurrency-linked flows and hawala channels, points to complex money-laundering schemes that extend beyond a single jurisdiction and involve numerous platforms and users.
Background
The Ambikapur cyber fraud case involved 84 transactions across two fake trading platforms and led to a broader inquiry that uncovered a network described as multi-state and internationally operated. A chargesheet named 23 individuals in relation to the fraud, with the investigation extending to fintech payment networks and alleged illicit money movements through various channels, including cryptocurrency and hawala.
Key Facts
- Rahul Bansal, an IPS officer (2022 batch), is accused of accepting a bribe in connection with the cyber fraud probe.
- The alleged bribe amount is Rs 1.5 crore; Rs 1 crore is said to have been paid.
- The Ambikapur cyber fraud case involved Rs 21.15 lakh in initial losses across 84 transactions on two fake platforms.
- A court in Delhi heard the matter after a complaint prompted by inaction by local authorities; the court issued a July 1 order.
- The investigation expanded to a multi-state, international cyber-fraud network with 23 arrests.
- 38 fake trading portals served 19,340 users; the network used mule accounts, fintech gateways, hawala and cryptocurrency to move money.
- Cryptocurrency-linked transactions in two platforms exceeded Rs 1,880 crore in four months.
- The inquiry ledger indicated Rs 601.90 crore in laundering flows in under two months; gateway collections were Rs 275.41 crore in October 2025.
- Two key suspects, Anshul Ginotra (Haryana) and Garvit Jain (Delhi), are absconding; non-bailable warrants were issued for them.
What Happens Next
The CBI court proceeding is ongoing, with the complainant's petition and the police report influencing further action in the case. The accused have maintained their positions as investigations proceed in multiple jurisdictions.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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