A special Mumbai court granted one-day CBI custody to NCLT Deputy Registrar Charan Pratap Singh in a high-profile ₹3 lakh bribery case. Learn about the investigation, legal developments, and key players involved.

One-Day Custody Granted for Deeper Investigation

On June 10, a special court in Mumbai approved the *Central Bureau of Investigation*’s (CBI) request for one-day custody of Deputy Registrar National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) official Charan Pratap Singh in connection with a ₹3 lakh bribery case.

Singh and his assistant, Karsan Ganesh Ahir, were earlier placed under judicial custody following Singh’s arrest by the CBI on May 29.

Bail Plea and Legal Objections

*Singh’s legal counsel*, Sak Saxena, filed a bail application, while the CBI pushed for five days of police custody citing the need for further investigation. Saxena objected, referencing the *Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)* and arguing that custody cannot be requested once an accused is in judicial custody—unless new and compelling evidence is presented.

He further stated that the authorities could still confront witnesses using approved judicial methods without shifting Singh back into police custody.

New Witness Testimonies Justify CBI Request

After reviewing the arguments, the court found that new witness statements had surfaced post the initial refusal of police custody on May 29. These developments provided enough ground for the CBI’s one-day custody request.

As a result, the special judge directed CBI Anti-Corruption Branch Police Inspector Shyamal Sawant to transfer Singh from Central Prison Mumbai on June 10 and present him back in court by 11:00 a.m. on June 11.

Details of the Bribery Allegations

Singh was initially arrested after allegedly demanding and receiving a ₹3 lakh bribe from a businessman, promising to resolve an ownership dispute related to a prominent Mumbai hotel.

According to the CBI, on May 16, Singh also transferred ₹50,000 to Pradeep Kumar Nagarale, a court officer at NCLT Mumbai, as a bribe meant to influence an NCLT board member. The investigation further revealed that incriminating WhatsApp messages between Singh and Nagarale had been deleted from both devices.

CBI officials are now working to retrieve this digital evidence as part of their broader investigation.

Conclusion: Legal Battle Continues

As the case unfolds, the CBI continues its probe into corruption within the judicial system. With new evidence emerging, this high-profile bribery case involving the NCLT may set important legal precedents for handling public sector corruption.