The Rouse Avenue court has requested a reply from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding a regular bail application filed on behalf of Bharat Mathur, senior vice president of a private company, who has been arrested in connection with an alleged bribe of Rs. 2.5 lakh alongside DGCA Deputy DG Mudavath Devula.

Both individuals remain in judicial custody following the CBI investigation.

Special Judge Chhavi Kapoor asked the CBI to respond and scheduled the matter for arguments on the bail application next week.

On April 24, the court remanded Mudavath Devula and Bharat Mathur in judicial custody until May 6 after their arrest on April 18.

Previously, on April 22, the Rouse Avenue court had extended the CBI’s custody of Mudavath Devula and Bharat Mathur by two days. The CBI counsel had requested a five-day extension, stating the case concerns an illegal advantage sought for clearing files related to drone import approvals. It was alleged that a deal of Rs. 5 lakh was made per application. Authorities arrested the accused from a restaurant near Hauz Khas and recovered Rs. 2.5 lakh from them. The CBI stated custody was necessary to progress the investigation and confront the accused with collected evidence.

On April 19, the court granted three days of CBI custody for Mudavath Devula and Bharat Mathur.

According to the CBI, on April 19, the Deputy Director General of DGCA and a private individual were arrested in connection with the Rs. 2.5 lakh bribery case. The case was registered on April 18, 2026, against a DGCA official and a representative of a private company based in New Delhi. The allegation involves the accused public servant demanding undue advantage from private persons to issue approvals and permissions for applications pending with the DGCA.