LAHORE: A local court in Lahore on Monday extended the physical remand of six officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for three more days in connection with the bribery case linked to YouTuber Saadur Rehman, popularly known as Ducky Bhai.
The officials, including Additional Director Sarfraz Chaudhry, along with Zafar, Shoaib Riaz, Ali Raza, Mujtaba Zafar, and Yasir, were presented before the court following the expiry of their earlier remand. They are accused of receiving Rs9 million in bribes from Ducky Bhai’s wife to influence an investigation.
FIA Recovers Rs45.8 Million, Seeks More Time
During the hearing, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) urged the court to extend the remand, citing the need for further interrogation. The FIA prosecutor informed the court that Rs45.8 million had been recovered so far from the accused and that additional victims and funds might still be traced.
He described the case as a complex white-collar crime involving financial fraud, stressing that the agency required more time to complete the investigation and gather additional evidence.
Defence Challenges Legitimacy of FIA’s Case
Defense counsel Mian Ali Ashfaq opposed the FIA’s request, arguing that the alleged bribe amount was only Rs9 million, yet the agency had already shown recoveries exceeding that figure.
He questioned the validity of the investigation, saying, “It’s unusual that the FIA itself is searching for the complainants. If no one has personally come forward, how can the law intervene?”
Ashfaq further claimed that no direct statement or evidence had been provided against his clients.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the judicial magistrate initially reserved the verdict before announcing that the suspects’ physical remand would be extended for three more days.
Background: Ducky Bhai’s Arrest and Charges
The bribery allegations stem from the arrest of YouTuber Ducky Bhai in August at Lahore Airport by NCCIA officials. The First Information Report (FIR) was filed by the state through the agency on August 17, alleging violations under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 and sections 294-B and 420 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
According to the FIR, the YouTuber is accused of promoting online gambling and betting platforms, including Binomo and 1xBet, through his YouTube content.
The case took a turn when several NCCIA officials were later accused of misusing their authority and accepting bribes to favor Ducky Bhai or his representatives during the investigation.
What’s Next
The FIA is expected to present the accused again in court later this week, along with updates on the ongoing financial probe. Authorities say more recoveries and testimonies are likely as the investigation expands into potential systemic corruption within the cybercrime agency.
