CBI Arrests DGCA Official, Reliance Executive in Drone Import Bribery Case

India’s federal probe agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has arrested a senior official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and a top executive from Reliance Industries over alleged bribery linked to drone import approvals. The accused have been identified as Mudavath Devula, a deputy director general at DGCA, and Bharat Mathur, a senior vice president with Reliance. According to the CBI, the arrests followed a tip-off that the two had agreed on a ₹15 lakh bribe to clear three applications related to drone imports by Asteria Aerospace.

Asteria Aerospace, a drone technology firm and subsidiary of Jio Platforms led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, develops customised drone solutions and has deployed over 400 drones. The CBI stated that the DGCA official allegedly demanded “undue advantage” in exchange for granting regulatory approvals. The accused were arrested in New Delhi, and authorities seized ₹2.5 lakh in cash during the operation. Additional searches at related premises reportedly led to the recovery of ₹37 lakh, along with gold and silver coins.

The case has raised fresh concerns about regulatory integrity within India’s aviation sector, where the DGCA is already facing staffing shortages and scrutiny over safety oversight. The CBI has charged the accused with criminal conspiracy and bribery involving a public servant. The development also comes at a crucial time for Reliance’s tech arm, as Jio Platforms is reportedly preparing for a major stock market listing. Meanwhile, India’s standing on corruption perception remains under watch, with Transparency International ranking the country 91st in its latest index.

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