The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Deputy Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, along with a senior executive of a major corporate group, in a bribery case linked to drone imports.
The official has been identified as Mudavath Devula, Deputy Director General at the Airworthiness Directorate at the DGCA headquarters in New Delhi, and Bharat Mathur, the Senior Vice President of a major corporate group.
According to an official press release by the CBI, the agency registered the case on April 18, 2026, against the senior DGCA official and the private representative. The public servant allegedly demanded undue advantage from private persons, including Mathur, in exchange for issuing approvals and permissions for pending applications related to drone imports with the DGCA.
The entire bribe amount of ₹2.5 lakh was seized during the trap operation conducted by the CBI.
CBI Arrests DGCA Deputy Director General and Private Person in Rs. 2.5 Lakh Bribery Case pic.twitter.com/CFzJYX2Yd0
— Central Bureau of Investigation (India) (@CBIHeadquarters) April 19, 2026
The agency said in the statement, “The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Deputy Director General at the Airworthiness Directorate, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Headquarters, New Delhi along with a representative of a private company in a bribery case of Rs. 2.5 Lakhs resulting in the seizure of the entire amount.”
Following registration of the case, CBI teams carried out searches at four locations in Delhi, including the premises of the DGCA deputy director and other private persons connected to the case. During the searches, cash amounting to ₹37 lakh, gold and silver coins, and multiple digital devices were recovered and seized as incriminating evidence.
The Airworthiness Directorate of the DGCA is responsible for certification of aircraft, including unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), enforcement of airworthiness standards, and granting approvals for imports and operations. Any alleged compromise in these regulatory processes raises serious concerns about aviation safety and compliance in India’s fast-growing drone sector.
The CBI has described the matter as a clear case of corruption involving a senior aviation regulator and a representative from the private sector engaged in drone-related activities. “Investigation of the case is continuing,” the agency stated.
This development comes as part of the CBI’s sustained drive against corruption in critical regulatory bodies. The DGCA regulates civil aviation, including the burgeoning drone industry, which has seen increased scrutiny and policy changes in recent years to promote indigenous manufacturing while regulating imports.
Some social media posts claimed that accused Bharat Mathur is VP of Reliance Communications. Wile such a person is indeed a VP with the company, the company has not confirmed by CBI or any media report.
