New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a compliance report concerning its earlier orders in two contempt petitions filed by Uttarakhand-cadre Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi (2002:UK) against three senior officials of the investigating agency.
A single-judge bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna passed the direction on September 2, 2026, while hearing the two contempt petitions. The court has asked the CBI to place its compliance report on record before the next hearing, scheduled for February 3, 2027.
The proceedings arise from a long-running legal dispute concerning the disclosure of internal file notings connected with a CBI investigation that originated from a complaint/report submitted during Chaturvedi’s tenure as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) at AIIMS, Delhi.
Contempt Petitions Against Senior CBI Officials
The two contempt petitions have been filed against senior CBI officials who were associated with the matter concerning the disclosure of records sought by Chaturvedi.
One of the petitions names former CBI Joint Director Vineet Vinayak and former Superintendent of Police (SP) Gagandeep Gambhir.
The second contempt petition names the CBI’s then-Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), who was involved in the proceedings concerning the information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The petitions relate to compliance with directions issued in the course of the dispute over whether internal file notings connected with the CBI investigation should be disclosed to Chaturvedi.
Case Traces Back to 2019 CIC Order
The legal dispute dates back to a December 2019 order of the Central Information Commission (CIC).
The CIC had directed that internal file notings relating to a CBI investigation be shared with Chaturvedi. The records were connected with an investigation that originated from a report submitted against senior IAS officer Vineet Chaudhary and the then Director of AIIMS.
At the time, Chaturvedi was serving as Chief Vigilance Officer at AIIMS, Delhi.
The CBI opposed disclosure of the information, invoking exemptions available under the RTI Act. The agency subsequently challenged the CIC’s order before the Delhi High Court.
The dispute has since continued through multiple stages of litigation, including proceedings before both a single judge and a division bench of the High Court.
Delhi HC Dismissed CBI Challenge in January 2024
In January 2024, a single-judge bench of the Delhi High Court dismissed the CBI’s challenge against the CIC’s order.
The dismissal meant that the CIC’s direction concerning disclosure of the internal file notings remained at the centre of the dispute.
The CBI subsequently challenged the single-judge bench’s ruling before a division bench of the Delhi High Court, where the matter is still pending.
It is this continuing litigation that has become relevant to the contempt proceedings initiated by Chaturvedi against the concerned CBI officials.
CBI Points to Pending Division Bench Challenge
During the recent hearing before Justice Mini Pushkarna, the CBI argued that its challenge against the orders of the single-judge bench is already pending before a division bench of the High Court.
The agency informed the court that the matter before the division bench is scheduled to be heard on October 7, 2026.
The CBI’s position was therefore that the issue concerning the underlying orders is still being considered by the division bench.
Despite the pendency of that challenge, Justice Pushkarna directed the CBI to submit its compliance report before the next hearing in the contempt petitions.
However, the court clarified that the direction would remain subject to any interim or final orders that may subsequently be passed by the division bench in the pending proceedings.
The contempt petitions are now listed for February 3, 2027, when the compliance position is expected to be considered by the court.
What Is the Dispute About?
At the heart of the matter is Chaturvedi’s effort to obtain internal file notings relating to a CBI investigation through the RTI route.
The investigation originated from a report submitted during his tenure as CVO at AIIMS and concerned allegations involving senior IAS officer Vineet Chaudhary and the then Director of AIIMS.
The CBI resisted the disclosure of the internal records, citing exemptions under the RTI Act. The CIC, however, directed disclosure in December 2019.
The CBI then approached the Delhi High Court, challenging the CIC’s decision. After the single-judge bench dismissed the CBI’s challenge in January 2024, the agency moved a division bench, where the challenge remains pending.
The latest contempt proceedings therefore represent another stage in the prolonged legal battle over implementation of the disclosure directions.
Who Is Sanjiv Chaturvedi?
Sanjiv Chaturvedi is a highly decorated 2002-batch Indian Forest Service officer of the Uttarakhand cadre and is currently serving as Chief Conservator of Forests in the state.
He is widely known for his work as a whistleblower and for taking up cases involving alleged corruption and financial irregularities within government institutions.
During his career, Chaturvedi has exposed major financial irregularities, including matters associated with the Haryana Forestry Case and alleged systemic graft during his tenure as Chief Vigilance Officer at AIIMS, Delhi.
His work in exposing corruption in public office earned him the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2015.
From Anti-Corruption Work to Conservation
Chaturvedi’s career has also included significant work in environmental conservation.
Alongside his long-running legal and administrative battles concerning alleged institutional corruption, he has pioneered several conservation initiatives.
Among these are the establishment of India’s first moss garden and a lichen park, projects that have highlighted lesser-known components of forest ecosystems and biodiversity conservation.
His work has consequently spanned both institutional accountability and environmental protection.
NOC for Central Deputation to Lokpal
In another significant development in June 2026, Chaturvedi was granted a no-objection certificate (NOC) for central deputation to the Lokpal.
The proposed deputation comes against the backdrop of his long record of taking up corruption-related matters and his recognition for work involving transparency and accountability in public institutions.
The ongoing Delhi High Court proceedings concerning the CBI therefore add another chapter to a long-running legal and institutional battle involving the IFS officer.
The contempt petitions will next come up before the Delhi High Court on February 3, 2027. The CBI’s compliance report, however, will be considered in the context of any interim or final orders that the division bench may pass in the related proceedings, including the hearing scheduled for October 7, 2026.
