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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNew Delhi: A court has granted bail to IPS officer Deepak Gahlawat, nearly a month after his arrest by CBI<\/a> in a bribery case, observing that no further custodial interrogation was required and his continued incarceration would not advance the investigation.Special judge Sushant Changotra also noted that the investigation had substantially concluded. \u201cAs submitted in the court, the investigation has for all practical purposes been completed, with only the CFSL report relating to the digital device remaining to be received. The applicant was arrested on July 1, 2026, and has remained in custody for approximately 30 days,\u201d the judge said.CBI has alleged that Gahlawat, who was posted as regional director in Directorate of Civil Aviation, conspired with the other accused to manipulate and influence the investigation of a criminal case that was transferred to the agency from Puducherry<\/a>.The agency claimed that on May 14, 2026, accused N Raja, Rajkumar, Pradeep Singh and Prabhat Kapoor met Gahlawat in his office, where the officer allegedly assured Raja of securing favourable relief in the CBI investigation. It also alleged that a bribe of Rs 3 crore was demanded, of which an advance of Rs 1 crore was routed through hawala channels. CBI claimed that the entire advance amount was recovered.However, the court noted that the investigation had not substantiated allegations of any CBI officer being involved. \u201cThere is also no direct evidence as to what had transpired in the said meeting dated May 14, 2026,\u201d the court observed.The judge further held that the prosecution case currently rested entirely on circumstantial evidence. The court recorded that the statements of the relevant witnesses, including those connected with the alleged hawala transactions, had already been recorded and only the forensic reports were awaited, thereby negating the need for further custodial interrogation.\u201cAccordingly, the present bail application is allowed, and the accused Deepak Gahlawat is ordered to be released on bail upon his furnishing of bonds in the sum of Rs 50,000 with one surety of like amount subject to certain conditions,\u201d the judge said.<\/div>\n