Officials Allegedly Demanded ₹1.50 Crore to Settle GST/Royalty Matter; Demand Subsequently Reduced to ₹40 Lakh
RAIGAD, AUGUST 29: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an IRS officer serving as Additional Commissioner of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST), a CGST Superintendent and a private person in connection with an alleged ₹40 lakh bribery case in Raigad, Maharashtra.
According to a CBI press release dated August 28, 2026, the agency arrested the three accused on August 27 in connection with a bribery case involving a stone-quarrying firm.
The CBI had registered the case on August 26, 2026, against the accused CGST Superintendent and others following a complaint alleging that the Superintendent had demanded ₹1.50 crore from the complainant for settling a GST/royalty-related matter concerning a stone-quarrying firm.
₹1.50 Crore Demand Reduced to ₹40 Lakh
The investigation revealed that following negotiations, the alleged bribe demand was subsequently reduced to ₹40 lakh, the CBI said.
The accused public servants allegedly arranged for the bribe amount to be collected through a private person and directed the complainant accordingly.
Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap and caught the private person while allegedly accepting the ₹40 lakh bribe on behalf of the accused public servants.
CGST Officials Allegedly Acknowledged Receipt of Bribe
The CBI said that the acceptance of the bribe amount was subsequently acknowledged by both the accused Superintendent of CGST and the accused Additional Commissioner of CGST.
Following the operation, all three accused persons were arrested by the investigating agency.
₹43 Lakh Cash and Jewellery Worth Around ₹90 Lakh Recovered
The CBI also conducted searches at the premises of the accused persons as part of the investigation.
During the searches, the agency recovered cash amounting to ₹43 lakh. Jewellery worth approximately ₹90 lakh was also recovered, according to the CBI.
The agency has taken the arrested accused before the competent court for further legal proceedings.
Further Investigation Underway
The CBI said that further investigation in the case is continuing. The agency is examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged bribe demand, the role of the accused persons and the financial transactions connected with the case.
The allegations are subject to further investigation and judicial proceedings.(KNC)
