CBI Files Bribery Case Against Senior CGST Officials and Chartered Accountant in Mumbai

Mumbai, 9th September 2024: The CBI has filed a case against six senior officials from the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) department and two others, including a chartered accountant, over allegations of bribery involving a Mumbai-based biopharmaceutical company owner.

On Sunday, the Central Bureau of Investigation reported the arrest of a CGST superintendent from the Mumbai West commissionerate, along with two others. They were allegedly caught accepting Rs 20 lakh, part of a Rs 60 lakh bribe. An earlier payment of Rs 30 lakh was allegedly made through hawala channels. The CGST officials are also accused of detaining the businessman and using force and verbal abuse to extort the bribe.

Eight individuals have been implicated in the bribery case. Those charged include Additional Commissioner Deepak Kumar Sharma, Superintendents Sachin Gokulka, Bijender Janawa, Nikhil Agrawal, and Nitin Kumar Gupta, all associated with the CGST commissionerate in Mumbai West; Joint Commissioner Rahul Kumar; Chartered Accountant Raj Aggarwal; and Abhishek Mehta.

The Goregaon (West) businessman visited the CGST office in Santacruz on Wednesday evening, where he was allegedly held overnight for about 18 hours before being released. A CGST superintendent reportedly demanded an Rs 80 lakh bribe in exchange for not arresting him. After negotiation, the demand was reduced to Rs 60 lakh.

Three other CGST superintendents allegedly participated in coercing the businessman, applying physical force and verbal threats. While detained, the businessman was reportedly pressured to call his cousin and relay the demand, promising non-arrest and favorable treatment in an ongoing CGST investigation, according to the CBI.

The businessman’s cousin then contacted the accused chartered accountant, who acted as an intermediary, along with another individual named in the CBI case. Both allegedly visited the CGST office during the night and facilitated the bribe negotiation with the officials. The CBI suspects they were colluding with the CGST officers.

The final bribe amount was set at Rs 60 lakh, with the chartered accountant responsible for delivering it to the CGST officials. After Rs 30 lakh was allegedly paid via an angadia, the businessman was allowed to leave the office.

The CBI set up a sting operation and caught the chartered accountant red-handed while accepting Rs 20 lakh of the remaining bribe. The private individual involved allegedly collected part of the bribe to hand over to the CGST officers.

One of the superintendents instructed the private individual to meet near the Oshiwara police station in Mumbai to receive the payment. The CBI later arrested the superintendent.

All three arrested individuals were brought before a special CBI court in Mumbai. The CGST officer and the chartered accountant were remanded to CBI custody until September 10, while the private individual was sent to judicial custody.

During searches at nine locations in and around Mumbai, including the homes and offices of the accused, the CBI seized incriminating documents.