Mumbai, August 19: In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended a Superintendent working at the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) office within the Bhiwandi Commissionerate, located in the neighboring Thane district. The arrest transpired while the accused was in the process of accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh from a complainant, according to CBI officials.
As per the narrative provided by the CBI, the case originated from a complaint filed against Hemant Kumar, the Superintendent at CGST in the Bhiwandi Commissionerate. He stood accused of seeking an undue advantage of Rs 30 lakh in order to resolve a pending GST issue pertaining to a company based in China. The company was being represented by a tax consulting firm associated with the complainant in Belapur. Subsequently, it is reported that the accused negotiated the bribe amount down to Rs 15 lakh.
The CBI devised a sting operation, effectively apprehending the accused individual in the very act of accepting a bribe amounting to Rs 5 lakh from the complainant. This sum constituted the initial installment of the total bribe. Subsequent searches were conducted at the accused’s offices and residences in Mumbai and Ghaziabad, resulting in the seizure of Rs 42.70 lakh in cash, documents related to both movable and immovable assets, along with other incriminating records.
The arrested individual was presented before the Special Judge for CBI Cases in Mumbai on Friday and subsequently remanded to CBI custody until August 21. This development underscores the commitment of law enforcement agencies to uphold transparency and integrity in public offices.
