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FIA Registers Bribery Case Against Nine NCCIA Officers Including Missing Officials
FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle Lahore has booked nine NCCIA officers — including six previously missing — for alleged bribery and abuse of power linked to YouTuber Ducky Bhai’s case.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-10-28
FIA Registers Bribery Case Against Nine NCCIA Officers Including Missing Officials

A major corruption scandal has surfaced within Pakistan’s cybercrime agency as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Anti-Corruption Circle Lahore registered a case against nine officers of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), including six whose whereabouts had remained unknown for several days until Monday.

The first information report (FIR) — filed on the complaint of Aroob Jatoi, wife of YouTuber Saadur Rehman, popularly known as Ducky Bhai — accuses the NCCIA officers of misusing their authority and accepting bribes during the investigation of Rehman’s case concerning the promotion of gambling apps on social media.

Those named in the FIR include Additional Director Sarfraz, Deputy Director (acting in-charge) Zawar Ahmad, Assistant Directors Shoaib Riaz and Mujtaba Zafar, Sub-Inspectors Ali Raza and Yasir Ramzan, Deputy Director Operations (Islamabad) Muhammad Usman, Deputy Director Ayaz Khan, and Salman Aziz.

The FIR, registered at 7:35 pm on Monday, invokes Sections 109 and 161 of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Section 5(2)(47) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, covering abetment and public servant misconduct.

According to the FIR, Assistant Director Shoaib Riaz — who led the inquiry into Ducky Bhai’s case — allegedly extorted Rs9 million from the YouTuber’s family through intermediaries, colluding with Rehman’s lawyer, Chaudhry Usman, to secure payments in exchange for “relief” in judicial proceedings.

The investigation found that Rs6 million was obtained in Sheikhupura through frontman Salman Aziz, while Rs3 million was received via cheques through another associate named Shehbaz. The funds were allegedly distributed among various NCCIA officers, with Riaz keeping Rs2 million and transferring $326,420 from Rehman’s account to his own via Binance.

The FIR further alleged that the accused officers were operating as a network of corruption, collecting bribes from call centres and individuals involved in online fraud, and forwarding a share of the illicit proceeds to their superiors at NCCIA headquarters.

The investigation has been assigned to Assistant Director Syed Zainul Abideen of FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle Lahore.

Six NCCIA Officers Produced in Court

Earlier today, six arrested NCCIA officers were brought in handcuffs before Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo in Lahore, where the FIA sought their physical remand for interrogation.

The FIA’s counsel argued that the suspects must be questioned further, while defence lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq challenged the legality of the arrests, claiming no permission had been obtained from the NCCIA Director General to act against Grade-18 officers. He also questioned why complainant Aroob Jatoi was not charged for offering a bribe.

After hearing arguments, the court reserved its decision on the FIA’s request for remand.

Separately, the defence filed an application demanding that the arrested officers be produced before the court and allowed legal access, citing violations of Articles 9, 10, and 10A of the Constitution guaranteeing due process and fair trial.

Background and Controversies

Among those arrested, Additional Director Sarfraz was reportedly transferred to NCCIA Headquarters Islamabad last month following a series of controversies involving crackdowns on YouTubers and online traders, including Ducky Bhai and Rajab Butt.

The officers had also faced disputes over cases involving lawyers and journalists in Lahore, leading to administrative reshuffles.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director Muhammad Usman, one of the accused named in the FIR, remains missing, prompting the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to direct police to intensify efforts for his recovery. His wife, Rozina Usman, who filed a petition seeking his return, has herself reportedly gone missing, further complicating the case.

The widening scandal has raised serious concerns about accountability within Pakistan’s cybercrime enforcement agencies, particularly regarding their handling of high-profile cases involving digital influencers and financial crimes.
Tagged:

FIA

CorruptionCase

NCCIA

DuckyBhai

CyberCrimePakistan
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