Now Reading: IRS officer, superintendent arrested in Rs 40 lakh CGST bribe case
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IRS officer, superintendent arrested in Rs 40 lakh CGST bribe case
CBI on Thursday arrested IRS officer Vinay Kumar Kantheti, additional commissioner of CGST in Raigad, a CGST superintendent and a private person for allegedly accepting a Rs 40 lakh bribe from a…
CBI on Thursday arrested IRS officer Vinay Kumar Kantheti, additional commissioner of CGST in Raigad, a CGST superintendent and a private person for allegedly accepting a Rs 40 lakh bribe from a businessman to settle a GST and royalty matter. The officials had initially demanded Rs 1.5 crore, which CBI verified before registering a case.
On Friday, a special court in Thane rejected CBI's plea for custodial interrogation and released the accused on bail, ruling the arrest illegal. CBI said it will challenge the order, claiming strong evidence. The defence argued that CBI failed to communicate grounds for arrest. CBI recovered an additional Rs 43 lakh in cash and jewellery worth Rs 90 lakh, mostly from superintendent Rakesh Kumar Sinha's premises.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The court's rejection of custodial interrogation, citing the seizure of bribe money and phones, suggests the legal threshold for arrest under Section 41A of CrPC was not met. CBI must now show in its challenge that the arrest complied with procedural safeguards, including written grounds. The case involves CGST officials, a cadre under the revenue department, and the stakes include disciplinary action and potential dismissal. The next hearing will test CBI's procedural compliance and the strength of its trap evidence.
A total of Rs 40 lakh bribe was allegedly accepted, with initial demand of Rs 1.5 crore reduced after negotiations. The complainant is a stone-quarrying firm. CBI recovered additional cash and jewellery worth over Rs 1.3 crore. The court's bail order, if upheld, could set a precedent for future trap cases. The Bombay High Court may hear CBI's challenge in the coming weeks.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
