Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi/Lucknow, Oct 23: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended two officials of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) Lucknow Zone in an alleged Rs 5 lakh bribery case, the agency said on Friday.

The accused have been identified as Deepak Kumar, an Enforcement Officer, and Manoj Dwivedi, a Head Constable, both posted at the ED office in Lucknow.

According to a CBI press release, the agency registered a case against the two officials on Friday following a complaint alleging a demand for illegal gratification.

The complaint alleged that Dwivedi had demanded a bribe from the complainant’s father in exchange for extending favourable treatment to him in an ED case. The complainant’s father had reportedly received two summonses from the ED’s Lucknow Zone in August and September 2026.

Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap on October 23. During the operation, Dwivedi was allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 5 lakh on behalf of Enforcement Officer Deepak Kumar to extend favour to the complainant’s father in the case.

The CBI subsequently apprehended both officials in connection with the alleged bribery.

The agency is continuing its investigation to establish the full extent of the alleged misconduct and ascertain whether any other officials were involved.

The action forms part of the CBI’s efforts to investigate alleged corruption among public servants and strengthen accountability in government agencies.