Mumbai – The Central Bureau of Investigation conducted a major anti-corruption operation in Mumbai on Monday, arresting a superintendent of the Central Goods and Services Tax department after catching him red-handed accepting a bribe. The CGST official bribe case has exposed serious allegations of tax fraud and extortion within the tax administration system.
Red-Handed Arrest in Mumbai
The CBI arrested Ankit Aggarwal, superintendent of CGST Audit-1 in Mumbai, in a CGST official bribe case that involved the acceptance of ₹5 lakh as part payment of a larger demanded sum. The sum was allegedly part of a total payoff of ₹17 lakh that Aggarwal had demanded from a firm’s representative in lieu of not fabricating a tax demand of ₹98 lakh against the company.
The CGST official bribe incident occurred when the accused allegedly agreed to reduce the firm’s tax liability in exchange for the illegal gratification. The arrest represents a significant breakthrough in combating corruption within the tax administration system.
Substantial Cash and Assets Recovered
During searches carried out at the premises of the accused in the CGST official bribe case, CBI officials recovered unaccounted cash amounting to ₹18.30 lakh. Additionally, property-related documents worth approximately ₹72 lakh were seized, raising questions about the source of these assets on a government official’s salary.
CBI officials reported on Tuesday that deeds for purchase of a property worth ₹40.31 lakh dated April 2025, and another property worth ₹32.10 lakh dated June 2024, were found during the search. These discoveries suggest a pattern of unexplained wealth accumulation by the accused official in the CGST official bribe case.
Digital Evidence Seized
The CBI also searched Aggarwal’s official premises as part of the CGST official bribe investigation and seized crucial digital evidence related to the audit report that was being prepared by him for the private company. This electronic evidence is expected to provide further insights into the modus operandi of the alleged extortion scheme.
The firm’s director, who filed the complaint that led to the CGST official bribe case, provided detailed information about the demands made by the accused official and the threats used to coerce payment.
Background of the Complaint
The CBI registered the CGST official bribe case on Monday based on a written complaint from the firm’s director. The complaint alleged that Aggarwal had demanded illegal gratification after carrying out an audit of the firm on November 26 this year, setting in motion the chain of events that led to his eventual arrest.
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According to the complainant in the CGST official bribe case, the accused public servant had threatened to fabricate a tax demand of ₹98 lakh against his company. This threat formed the basis of the extortion attempt that culminated in the demand for a ₹20 lakh bribe to settle the issue.
Negotiation and Reduced Demand
In the course of the CGST official bribe case, Aggarwal allegedly entered into negotiations with the complainant. After discussions, the accused official reportedly agreed to accept ₹17 lakh in exchange for reducing the tax liability of the complainant’s company, down from the original demand of ₹20 lakh.
The part-payment of the bribe in the CGST official bribe case, amounting to ₹5 lakh, was specifically demanded to be delivered on Monday. This scheduled payment provided the CBI with the opportunity to conduct a trap and catch the accused official in the act of accepting the illegal gratification.
Modus Operandi Exposed
The CGST official bribe case reveals a concerning pattern of alleged corruption within tax administration. The accused superintendent allegedly used his position and authority to conduct audits as leverage for extorting money from businesses, threatening to create fabricated tax demands if bribes were not paid.
This modus operandi in the CGST official bribe case involved the threat of creating artificial tax liabilities that would force companies to either pay substantial unwarranted taxes or pay bribes to make the fabricated demands disappear. Such practices undermine the integrity of the tax system and place honest businesses at a disadvantage.
Timing of the Trap
The CBI’s successful operation in the CGST official bribe case demonstrates effective coordination and planning. By setting up a trap at the exact moment when the part-payment was scheduled to be delivered, investigators were able to catch the accused official in the act, providing irrefutable evidence of the bribery transaction.
The timing of the arrest on Monday, when the ₹5 lakh was being handed over, ensured that the evidence collected would be strong enough to support prosecution in the CGST official bribe case.
Implications for Tax Administration
The CGST official bribe case raises serious concerns about corruption within the tax administration system. The recovery of substantial unaccounted cash and property documents worth crores of rupees from a government official’s premises suggests that this may not have been an isolated incident.
The case highlights the need for stronger internal controls and oversight mechanisms within tax departments to prevent officials from misusing their authority for personal gain.
Legal Proceedings Ahead
Following the arrest in the CGST official bribe case, the accused official will face prosecution under relevant anti-corruption laws. The substantial evidence collected, including the ₹5 lakh caught in the act, unaccounted cash of ₹18.30 lakh, property documents worth ₹72 lakh, and digital evidence from official premises, is expected to form the basis of a strong prosecution case.
The CGST official bribe case serves as a reminder that law enforcement agencies remain vigilant against corruption in public offices and are prepared to take swift action when credible complaints are received. The successful arrest demonstrates that officials who misuse their positions for personal enrichment will be held accountable under the law.
