Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three accused including a Superintendent of CGST (Anti-Evasion), Mumbai West Commissionerate and two private persons- one one of them a CA, during the during trap proceedings, while accepting part bribe amount of Rs. 20 lakh, out of the negotiated undue advantage of Rs 60 lakh demanded as bribe. An amount of Rs 30 lakh of the total bribe amount was allegedly paid earlier through Hawala.
CBI registered a case on a complaint against 8 accused including 6 Officers of CGST, Mumbai comprising an Additional Commissioner, a Joint Commissioner, 4 Superintendents and 2 private persons including a Chartered Accountant on allegations of bribery etc. It was alleged that when the complainant visited CGST Office, Santacruz in the evening of 04.09.2024, he was kept confined in the Office whole night and released after about 18 hours on 05.09.2024.
It was also alleged that during complainant’s confinement, one of accused Supdt. CGST(bribe reciever) demanded Rs.80 lakh bribe for not arresting him which was subsequently reduced to Rs. 60 lakhs. Further, it was alleged that three other colleagues of said Superintendent (all Superintendents of CGST) also joined him in pressurising the complainant including through repeated use of force and hurling abuses.
The complainant was, allegedly, made to call his cousin while in confinement, to convey the demand of undue advantage by CGST Officers for not arresting the complainant and favouring him in ongoing probe by CGST. It was also alleged that cousin of complainant subsequently contacted an accused CA who further contacted other accused private person and senior CGST officers including accused JC, CGST. Both accused CA and other accused private person visited the CGST office during the intervening night and negotiated the bribe with CGST officials. It was also alleged that the bribe demand was finalized for amount of Rs. 60 lakhs to be delivered to CGST officers through accused CA. Out of negotiated bribe of Rs.60 lakhs, Rs.30 lakhs was allegedly paid by Cousin of complainant through an Angadia. Further, it was alleged that only then that the complainant was allowed to leave CGST Office, the next day.
CBI laid a trap and caught accused CA red-handed while accepting an amount of Rs 20 lakh on behalf of CGST officers, out of the remaining bribe amout. Further, controlled bribe delivery was done to other accused private person who was to further deliver the bribe to CGST officers through accused Supdt. CGST(bribe reciever). During further trap proceedings, accused Supdt. CGST(bribe reciever) called the other accused private person to meet him near Oshivara Police Station, Mumbai for collecting bribe. Thereafter, said accused Supdt. CGST was also apprehended by the CBI team.
CBI arrested all the aforesaid three accused involved in accepting bribe during trap proceedings. They were produced before the Special Court for CBI Cases, Mumbai. The Court granted Police Custody of arrested Superintendent CGST and CA till 10.09.2024. Arrested private person has been sent to judicial custody.
Searches were conducted at 09 locations at the official and residential premises of accused persons in and around Mumbai which led to recovery of various incriminating documents.
Investigation is continuing.
SOURCE:PIB
