The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three people, including a senior official of state-owned Munitions India Limited (MIL) and the chief executive officer of private defence maker SMPP Limited, in an alleged bribery case related to a ₹500 crore ammunition supply contract. The arrests, which took place on October 14, 2026, followed investigations in India into payments to officials to cover up what they had done wrong and leaking sensitive defence-related secrets.
The case has raised serious questions about the transparency and accountability of defence procurement, in which sensitive information and decisions on contracts can have consequences for India's strategic interests. The CBI has claimed that the accused are linked to a contract awarded to SMPP for supplies of ammunition to MIL for one year.
The CBI has arrested Anil Kumar , Executive Director of Munitions India Limited (MIL) Pune in a bribery case of 1.73 crore rupees. https://t.co/GeOsoB5RXU
— Aditya Singh (@Beingadiisingh) October 14, 2026
The others arrested are Anil Kumar, an executive director at Munitions India Limited, and Ashish Kansal, the CEO and director-promoter of SMPP Limited. The third person arrested is B. Harshvardhan, brother of Anil Kumar.
Kumar allegedly demanded and accepted illegal gratification from private contractors and vendors in exchange for official favours and sensitive information about defence production, procurement and other strategically important activities of MIL. The investigation is also examining relatives' involvement in receiving, keeping or hiding the money linked to alleged corruption.
The investigation is centred on a contract of ₹500 crore that SMPP signed for ammunition supplies to Munitions India Limited for one year. The CBI has claimed that Kansal was in regular contact with Kumar in relation to the contract. Also in the FIR is Ravit Kumar Tewatia, a SMPP employee. The agency is investigating the nature of the communication, possible benefits and whether sensitive information was shared in exchange for favourable treatment.
Unauthorised disclosure of defence-related information is a threat to the integrity of procurement processes and national security, said the Defence Production Board (DPRB). These are allegations and must be tested through the legal process.
According to the FIR provided by the CBI, Kumar was expected to get a large bribe on October 12. Kumar instructed his brother Harshvardhan to go to Pune that next morning to collect the suspected proceeds and keep them concealed. The FIR also alleged that money was routed or parked through Kumar's wife Chetnashri, his brother and some other family members.
The CBI is investigating whether these alleged arrangements were to conceal the source or ownership of funds. The role of each person named in the case will need to be established through evidence, and allegations in an FIR do not amount to a finding of guilt.
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