CDSCO Official, Pharma MD Under CBI Lens Over Alleged Bribery of around Rs 50000

The FIR was registered on August 6, 2026, by the CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch, Visakhapatnam. It names Bikash Roy, Assistant Drug Controller (India) at the CDSCO sub-zonal office in Visakhapatnam, and H Vikram, Managing Director of Chennai-based Artura Pharmaceuticals Private Limited, which operates a manufacturing facility at Sri City in Andhra Pradesh, reports TOI. The FIR also mentions unidentified public servants and private individuals.

The case was initiated on the basis of information received by the CBI, which appointed Deputy Superintendent of Police Pramod Kumar Tanwar as the trap-laying officer.

According to the FIR, Roy was responsible for processing applications concerning Certificates of Pharmaceutical Product (CPP) and WHO-Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certifications submitted by pharmaceutical companies under his jurisdiction. He was also overseeing the CDSCO sub-zonal office and sea port office in Visakhapatnam, with jurisdiction extending across Andhra Pradesh.

The CBI has alleged that three applications submitted by Artura Pharmaceuticals were pending before Roy. These reportedly comprised two applications related to WHO-CPP certification and another application concerning an additional product.

The agency has further alleged that Roy was seeking an “undue advantage” for processing and clearing the applications and had allegedly asked Vikram to meet him in Visakhapatnam to discuss the matter. According to the allegations, Roy indicated that the company's applications could be cleared without a physical inspection of its premises if the alleged payment was made.

The source information cited in the FIR reportedly alleged that Roy collected between ₹30,000 and ₹40,000 for each “WHO file” and was also allegedly expecting an annual payment of ₹50,000 in connection with applications submitted by Artura Pharmaceuticals. For the applications pending at the time, Vikram allegedly intended to pay ₹50,000 to Roy on August 6.

The FIR also refers to Sirimisetty Prasad, a Hyderabad-based regulatory consultant who handled regulatory compliance and government-related work for pharmaceutical companies in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The CBI's source information alleges that Prasad informed Vikram about the alleged demand for an undue advantage for clearing the pending applications.

However, Prasad has not been named as an accused in the FIR. The consultant allegedly advised Vikram to negotiate the proposed payment and reduce it from ₹50,000 to ₹30,000.

The CBI case concerns alleged bribery in exchange for regulatory favours relating to pharmaceutical applications associated with WHO certification standards. The report also detailed the three pending applications, the alleged payment amounts, the proposed transaction on August 6 and the role attributed to the Hyderabad-based consultant.

The allegations recorded in the FIR indicate a suspected criminal conspiracy involving the proposed exchange of illegal gratification for official favours in processing pharmaceutical regulatory applications. However, the allegations are yet to be established and remain subject to investigation. According to the news reported by TOI, the CBI investigation is expected to examine the alleged demand for bribes, the proposed payment and the respective roles of the individuals named or referred to in the case.