A Delhi court on Monday granted bail to Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) executive Bharat Mathur in a bribery case initiated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). 

Special Judge Chhavi Kapoor of Rouse Avenue Courts passed the order. 

Mathur was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on April 18 along with DGCA Deputy Director General (Airworthiness Directorate) Mudavath Devula. 

The investigation relates to alleged corruption in granting regulatory approvals for drone imports. According to the CBI, Devula demanded illegal payments to clear pending applications. 

It is alleged that Mathur - a senior vice-president at RIL and associated with its subsidiary Asteria Aerospace - contacted Devula in March regarding pending applications for drone imports.

Investigators allege that a deal was struck for ₹5 lakh per application, with ₹2.5 lakh paid as part of the bribe during a trap operation in Delhi, where both accused were caught. Searches later recovered around ₹37 lakh in cash, along with gold, silver and digital evidence. 

RIL has maintained that Mathur was engaged as a consultant and that it was neither aware of any transaction involving him nor did they approve any such unauthorised transaction.

Advocate Ashish Batra appeared for Bharat Mathur.