NEW DELHI — In a major crackdown on regulatory corruption, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confirmed on Sunday that the CBI arrests DGCA official Mudavath Devula. Devula serves as the Deputy Director General at the Airworthiness Directorate of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Investigators also detained Bharat Mathur, a senior consultant linked to a prominent corporate group and drone manufacturer Asteria Aerospace Ltd. The arrests occurred late Saturday evening following a sting operation near the IIT Delhi flyover. The federal agency intercepted a bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh, which was allegedly intended to expedite drone import licenses.
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 investigation began in March 2026 after a reliable source flagged suspicious activity within the Airworthiness Directorate. According to the CBI First Information Report (FIR), Mathur approached Devula on March 18 to enquire about pending drone import applications. Devula allegedly demanded an “undue advantage” of Rs 5 lakh per file to process three specific approvals for Asteria Aerospace. Furthermore, the CBI spokesperson revealed that the official agreed to a partial payment to secure immediate clearance. This operation highlights the agency’s zero-tolerance policy toward “pay-for-play” schemes in critical infrastructure sectors.
Midnight Raids Reveal Stash of Cash and Assets
Following the initial arrests, the CBI launched simultaneous searches at four locations across the National Capital Region (NCR). These raids targeted the residential and official premises of both M. Devula and Bharat Mathur. During these searches, investigators recovered a significant amount of unexplained wealth. Specifically, the CBI seized Rs 37 lakh in hard currency along with multiple gold and silver coins. Digital devices, including encrypted mobile phones and laptops, were also taken into custody for forensic analysis to trace wider links in the aviation bribery network.
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Moreover, the CBI has officially booked the suspects under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. While Bharat Mathur is associated with a major corporate parent company, the parent group is not named as an accused in the FIR. However, the FIR explicitly mentions Asteria Aerospace Ltd as a beneficiary of the illegal gratification. The agency believes that the “Rs 5 lakh per file” demand suggests a recurring pattern of misconduct. They are currently scrutinizing all import approvals issued by the Airworthiness Directorate over the last six months.
Aviation Safety Concerns and Regulatory Integrity
The arrest of a Deputy Director General has sent shockwaves through the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The Airworthiness Directorate is responsible for ensuring that all aircraft and drones entering Indian airspace meet strict safety standards. If approvals are being traded for bribes, the structural integrity of the nation’s aviation safety framework is at risk. Additionally, the drone sector is currently seeing rapid growth under the “Make in India” initiative. Therefore, transparency in the grant of import licenses is vital for maintaining the confidence of legitimate tech startups and global investors.
A spokesperson for the corporate group mentioned in the investigation clarified that Mathur acted as an independent consultant. They stated that the company does not authorize or condone any form of illegal transaction. Meanwhile, Asteria Aerospace has yet to release an official statement regarding the inclusion of their name in the CBI FIR. Despite these denials, the CBI maintains that the evidence trail—including recorded meetings at Essex Farms—is substantial. The agency intends to present the accused before a special court to seek extended custodial interrogation.
The Road Ahead: Strengthening Oversight at DGCA
The CBI arrests DGCA official incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in monitoring regulatory bodies. To prevent such “inspector raj” remnants, industry experts are calling for a fully automated, human-free approval system. By removing the discretionary power of individual officers, the government can effectively eliminate the “middleman” culture that Mathur allegedly represented. For now, the CBI is focusing on identifying other private entities that may have paid similar bribes to Devula.
As the forensic team dives into the seized digital devices, more names from the aerospace industry are expected to surface. The CBI’s proactive approach in the 2026 “Clean Skies” initiative aims to root out systemic graft before it impacts public safety. Travelers and tech companies alike will be watching closely to see how the DGCA reforms its internal audit processes. Ultimately, the success of India’s drone ecosystem depends on a regulator that is as technically competent as it is ethically sound.