Central Bureau of Investigation arrested a Superintendent of CGST Audit-I, Mumbai, on 22 December 2025 for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh from a private company director. The arrest followed a written complaint alleging that the officer, after conducting an audit on 26 November 2025, threatened to raise a fabricated tax demand of ₹98 lakh unless illegal gratification was paid. After negotiations, the alleged bribe was reduced to ₹17 lakh, with ₹5 lakh sought as an initial instalment. The CBI laid a trap and caught the officer red-handed while accepting the money. Subsequent searches at the officer's residence led to the recovery of ₹18.30 lakh in unaccounted cash and documents relating to the purchase of two properties valued at over ₹72 lakh during 2024–25. Searches at the office premises resulted in seizure of digital evidence linked to the audit report. The investigation remains ongoing.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Press Releases

23-12-2025

CBI Arrests CGST Superintendent in Mumbai while accepting Rs. Five Lakh Bribe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Superintendent, CGST Audit-I, Mumbai while accepting Bribe of Rs. Five Lakh from the complainant on 22.12.2025.

CBI registered the case on 22nd December, 2025, on a written complaint from Director of a Private Company, alleging demand of illegal gratification by the accused Superintendent, CGST, Mumbai. The accused Superintendent CGST carried out an audit of the complainant's company on 26.11.2025. It was alleged by the complainant that the accused had threatened to fabricate a tax demand of Rs. 98 Lakh against the private company and demanded Rs. 20 Lakh as bribe to "settle" the issue.

After negotiation, the accused agreed to accept illegal gratification of Rs. 17,00,000 in exchange of reducing the alleged tax liability of the complainant's company. The part payment of Bribe  Rs. 5 Lakh was demanded to be delivered on 22.12.2025.

CBI laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while accepting the bribe of Rs. 5 Lakh (as part payment of Bribe).

Searches were conducted by CBI at the residence of accused at Mumbai which led to recovery of unaccounted and unexplained cash of Rs. 18.30 Lakh. Deeds for purchase of a property worth Rs. 40.315 Lakh dated April 2025 and another property worth Rs. 32.10 Lakh dated June 2024 was found during the search. The searches were also conducted at the office of accused public servant and digital evidences were seized regarding the audit report being prepared by him for the Private Company.

The investigation is continuing.