Factbox-India's Asteria, the Reliance unit at the centre of a bribery scandal

A bribery investigation by India's Central Bureau of Investigation has implicated Asteria Aerospace, a drone technology company owned by Reliance Industries. Officials from the aviation watchdog and Reliance were arrested for allegedly accepting bribes to facilitate drone import approvals. Despite the allegations, Reliance claims it was unaware of any wrongdoing. Asteria, which has seen significant revenue growth, provides drone services across various sectors and was acquired by Reliance in 2019. The case highlights the regulatory environment surrounding India's burgeoning drone industry, which has expanded since the liberalization of drone policies in 2021.