Raipur/New Delhi: A trainee IPS officer in Chhattisgarh has come under scrutiny after a complaint alleged that he and two police personnel accepted a ₹1 crore bribe through hawala channels during the investigation of a fraud case.
The officer, Rahul Bansal, a 2022-batch IPS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, was serving as the City Superintendent of Police (CSP) in Ambikapur, Sarguja, when the allegations surfaced.
The matter has now reached the Special CBI Court at Rouse Avenue in Delhi, where Special Judge Sudhanshu Kaushik has sought reports from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Chhattisgarh Director General of Police (DGP).
The allegations are yet to be established, and the matter is currently before the court.
How Did the ₹1 Crore Bribery Case Come to Light?
According to the complaint filed by Akash Kumar, a resident of Haryana, the alleged bribe was demanded during the investigation of a fraud case registered at the Cyber Range Police Station in Ambikapur.
The complaint alleges that Rahul Bansal, along with ASI Praveen Kumar Rathore and Constable Anshul Sharma, was involved in the alleged demand and collection of the money.
The ₹1 crore was allegedly transferred through hawala operators in two instalments of ₹50 lakh each in May 2026.
The complainant claims that conversations with the police personnel were recorded through WhatsApp calls. These recordings, along with WhatsApp chats and other documents, were subsequently submitted before the court.
The allegations relate to a purported arrangement to protect accused persons and influence the investigation in a fraud case.
Fraud Case Behind the Alleged Bribe Demand
The underlying case reportedly concerns an alleged investment fraud in which ₹20.15 lakh was allegedly siphoned off from a person who was promised higher returns through stock-market trading.
According to the complaint, the victim was persuaded to download applications named ‘Money Trade 365’ and ‘Sky Trade’. He allegedly deposited ₹20.15 lakh in 84 instalments into 17-18 different bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.
The complaint alleges that during the investigation, the accused police personnel demanded ₹1 crore to allegedly favour those involved in the fraud case.
However, these are allegations made in the complaint and remain subject to investigation and judicial scrutiny.
Complainant Approached CBI Court After No FIR
Akash Kumar reportedly submitted a written complaint to the CBI Director on June 8, 2026, seeking an investigation and registration of an FIR.
According to the complaint, no concrete action followed. He subsequently approached the Special CBI Court under Section 175(3).
The complaint names Rahul Bansal, ASI Praveen Kumar Rathore, Constable Anshul Sharma and the CBI as parties. It seeks registration of an FIR under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
The complainant also submitted an affidavit, WhatsApp conversations and audio recordings as supporting material.
Delhi Court Seeks Reports From CBI, Chhattisgarh DGP
Taking note of the allegations, the Special CBI Court issued notices in the matter and sought information about the action taken so far.
A notice was also issued to the Chhattisgarh DGP on July 17, 2026, seeking a factual report on the allegations.
The DGP’s counsel sought one month to submit the response, but the court rejected the request and directed that the report be submitted by July 22.
On August 4, 2026, the court again directed that the report be placed before it before the next hearing.
The matter is scheduled to come up for hearing on August 11, 2026.
What Did Police Officials Say?
Sarguja Superintendent of Police Rajesh Agrawal reportedly said that the matter concerns the Range office and that the Inspector General would be in a better position to comment.
Attempts were reportedly made to contact IG Deepak Jha and Rahul Bansal for their responses to the allegations, but they did not respond to the calls.
The absence of a response does not by itself establish the allegations against the officers.
Who Is IPS Rahul Bansal?
Rahul Bansal is a 2022-batch IPS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre who had an unusual journey into the civil services.
Originally from Rajasthan, he is reported to have roots in the Karauli region and was born on June 26, 1994. He completed his engineering education from IIT (BHU), Varanasi, where he earned a B.Tech degree in Electrical Engineering. He also holds an LLB from Rajasthan University, according to the biographical information available about him.
Before entering the IPS, Bansal had already secured government employment and worked in the Income Tax Department.
From Income Tax Officer to IPS
Bansal’s civil services journey did not begin with the UPSC selection that ultimately brought him into the IPS.
He was initially selected through the SSC examination process and worked as an Income Tax Inspector. He also qualified for the post of Assistant Audit Officer.
While working, he continued preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. His journey reportedly involved several unsuccessful attempts before he finally achieved his goal.
He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021 with an All India Rank of 377, with Mathematics as his optional subject.
The same examination cycle also saw him qualify for the Indian Forest Service (IFS), where he reportedly secured 251st rank.
His selection into the IPS marked a major transition from central tax administration to policing.
Fifth Attempt Finally Took Him to IPS
Rahul Bansal reportedly cleared the UPSC examination on his fifth attempt.
His journey is notable because he continued his preparation while working in government service rather than entering the examination process immediately after college.
After securing AIR 377 in UPSC CSE 2021, he was allocated the Chhattisgarh cadre and formally joined the IPS on August 29, 2022.
Following his training, he was posted as City Superintendent of Police (CSP), Ambikapur, in Sarguja district, with the posting taking effect from August 5, 2025.
The Ambikapur assignment was therefore among his first major field responsibilities as a police officer.
From Engineering to Tax Administration and Police Service
Bansal’s career path stands out for the number of competitive examinations and services he cleared before reaching the IPS.
His journey can broadly be traced as:
- Engineering: B.Tech from IIT (BHU), Varanasi.
- Central government service: Selected through SSC and worked as an Income Tax Inspector.
- Other examination success: Selected for the Assistant Audit Officer post and qualified for the Indian Forest Service.
- UPSC CSE 2021: Secured AIR 377.
- IPS: Joined the 2022 batch and was allotted Chhattisgarh cadre.
- Field posting: Served as CSP, Ambikapur, Sarguja.
Allegations Surface During First Major Field Posting
The bribery allegations have surfaced while Bansal was serving in his early field career in Chhattisgarh.
The complaint alleges that the alleged ₹1 crore transaction was linked to the investigation of a cyber-fraud case and that police personnel acted as intermediaries in transferring the money through hawala channels.
The Delhi court’s decision to seek reports from the CBI and the Chhattisgarh DGP has now put the allegations under formal judicial scrutiny.
At this stage, there is no finding of guilt against Rahul Bansal or the other police personnel named in the complaint. The allegations will have to be independently investigated and established through due legal process.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus is on the reports sought by the Special CBI Court from the Chhattisgarh police and the CBI.
The court will examine the material placed before it, including the alleged WhatsApp conversations, audio recordings and other documents submitted by the complainant.
The next hearing on August 11, 2026, is expected to provide further clarity on whether the allegations warrant a formal criminal investigation or registration of an FIR.
For Rahul Bansal, the case comes at a relatively early stage of his IPS career, after an unusual journey from the Income Tax Department and multiple competitive examinations to his first field posting in the police service.
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