The investigation arose from ONGC’s July 2020 complaint alleging bid rigging in oil well cement tenders.
In December 2022, seven teams searched cement companies’ premises. Bishnoi’s team searched one of India Cements’ two Chennai premises. Officials Dheeraj Rohilla and V Sriraj from another team recorded statements of company officials Swaminathan and Parthasarathy. The signed statements were deposited with the CCI.
On April 24, 2023, Additional Director General Amit Tayal and Sriraj reported that Bishnoi had allegedly admitted to tampering with the statements. Following a preliminary inquiry, Bishnoi was suspended on May 19, 2023.
The CCI approved major penalty proceedings and a draft chargesheet. After the Central Vigilance Commission concurred, the CCI chairperson directed issuance of the charge memorandum.
Bishnoi challenged the approval process and argued that the Director General’s subsequent reliance on the same statements undermined the tampering allegation.