CBI Arrests TRAI Official for Accepting ₹1 Lakh Bribe from Cable Operators

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a senior research officer from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹1 lakh from cable operators based in Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh.
The agency booked Narender Singh Rawat, a senior research officer of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), on allegations that he demanded the bribe from a licence holder of the Union information and broadcasting ministry for running cable services in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur.

The arrest followed a complaint from a licensed cable operator, filed on behalf of five other operators, accusing the TRAI official of soliciting the bribe. The official allegedly offered favorable assessments of their Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports (Q-PMRs) and withheld recommendations to revoke their licenses.
The purpose of the bribe was to not recommend cancellation of their licenses to the ministry, the agency said.

“It is also alleged that, as per TRAI guidelines, the said cable operators are required to submit their quarterly performance monitoring to the said accused who, after assessment or perusal, accepts or recommends cancellation of their licences if some discrepancies are found,” a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) spokesperson said in a statement.

The complainants, licensed under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, accused the officer of exploiting his position to manipulate regulatory assessments in exchange for financial gains.

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