Mumbai, December 23: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Superintendent Ankit Agarwal red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹ 5 lakh. This amount was a partial payment of a total demand of Rs 17 lakh.
The CBI said that the agency had registered a case on December 22 based on a written complaint from the director of a private company. The complaint alleged that the Superintendent conducted an audit of the company on November 26 and demanded a bribe of Rs 20 lakh by threatening to show tax dues of Rs 98 lakh. Later, the accused agreed to settle the matter for Rs 17 lakh and the first installment of Rs 5 lakh was agreed to be taken on December 22.
The CBI laid a trap and caught the accused while accepting the bribe. Subsequently, a search was conducted at his Mumbai residence, where unaccounted cash worth ₹18.30 lakh was recovered. The agency also found documents related to property worth ₹40.315 lakh purchased in April this year and property worth ₹32.10 lakh purchased in June 2024.
The CBI also searched the accused’s office and seized digital evidence related to an audit report being prepared for a private company. The CBI stated that the investigation is ongoing and further action is being taken.