CBI arrests Bhopal CGST superintendent for ₹2 lakh bribe, seizes ₹72.50 lakh cash
Synopsis
A CBI trap operation in Bhopal has exposed alleged month-on-month extortion of a scrap firm by a CGST superintendent — and the ₹72.50 lakh cash found at his homes in Bhopal and Kanpur dwarfs the ₹2 lakh bribe he was caught accepting, raising sharp questions about the scale of the alleged racket.
Key Takeaways
Rajesh Kumar , Superintendent, Preventive Branch (HQ), CGST and Central Excise Commissionerate, Bhopal , was arrested by the CBI on 11 October 2025 .
He was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh from a Bhopal -based scrap firm proprietor.
The bribe was allegedly demanded at ₹2 lakh per month to prevent interception of the firm's scrap-carrying vehicles. ₹72.50 lakh in cash and immovable property documents were seized from his premises in Bhopal and Kanpur .
In a separate earlier case, CBI also arrested two BSNL engineers in Bhopal for demanding ₹2 lakh each to process bills of a Jabalpur -based contractor.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday, 11 October 2025, arrested Rajesh Kumar, Superintendent of the Preventive Branch (HQ), CGST and Central Excise Commissionerate, Bhopal, after catching him red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh from the proprietor of a Bhopal-based scrap firm. Searches of his residential premises in Bhopal and Kanpur subsequently yielded a cash recovery of ₹72.50 lakh along with documents relating to immovable property.
How the Trap Was Laid
According to the CBI, the agency registered the case on Saturday after the scrap firm's proprietor filed a complaint alleging that Kumar had been demanding ₹2 lakh per month as an 'undue advantage'. The bribe, the complainant stated, was sought in exchange for allowing the firm's vehicles carrying scrap material to move freely — specifically, for Kumar to refrain from intercepting those vehicles or obstructing the business in any way. The CBI laid a trap and arrested Kumar at the moment he accepted the payment.
Cash and Property Documents Seized
Searches carried out at Kumar's residential premises in both Bhopal and Kanpur led to the recovery of ₹72.50 lakh in cash, a sum that investigators are examining in the context of his official salary and declared assets. Documents pertaining to immovable property were also seized, according to the CBI. The disparity between the alleged monthly bribe demand and the cash found at his premises is likely to be central to the agency's further investigation.
Earlier Bhopal Case: BSNL Engineers Arrested
This arrest comes in the backdrop of a separate CBI action in Bhopal involving two senior BSNL engineers. The agency had arrested the Chief Engineer (Electrical) and the Superintending Engineer (Electrical) of BSNL, Bhopal, after catching both red-handed accepting ₹75,000 each as part payment of a demanded bribe of ₹2 lakh each. According to the CBI, the bribe was demanded from a Jabalpur-based firm that executed Operation and Comprehensive Maintenance (OCM) and electrical installation work for BSNL — with the payment sought to process the firm's pending bills across 14 different works. Searches in that case were conducted at premises in Bhopal, Lucknow, and Kanpur.
Pattern of Corruption in Central Offices
The two cases together point to a pattern of alleged rent-seeking by officials of Central government departments posted in Madhya Pradesh, with private firms compelled to pay to secure routine regulatory compliance or bill clearances. Critics argue that the concentration of such cases in a single city within a short span underscores systemic vulnerabilities in oversight mechanisms. The CBI's use of trap operations — rather than post-facto investigations — suggests the agency is prioritising real-time enforcement. Both cases are at an early stage and further arrests in associated networks have not been ruled out, according to officials.
Point of View
Suggesting either a longer extortion run or multiple income streams the CBI will now pursue. What is notable is that both recent Bhopal cases involved Central government officers leveraging regulatory or financial power over private firms, a pattern that points less to individual bad actors and more to a structural absence of third-party oversight in bill-clearance and compliance functions. The CBI's preference for trap operations is effective theatre but catches only the visible tip; asset-tracing and departmental vigilance action will determine whether accountability extends up the chain.
NationPress
11 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rajesh Kumar and why was he arrested by the CBI?
Rajesh Kumar is a Superintendent in the Preventive Branch (HQ) of the CGST and Central Excise Commissionerate, Bhopal. He was arrested by the CBI on 11 October 2025 after being caught red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh from the proprietor of a Bhopal-based scrap firm.
Why was the CGST superintendent allegedly demanding a bribe?
According to the CBI, Rajesh Kumar allegedly demanded ₹2 lakh per month from the scrap firm's proprietor in exchange for not intercepting the firm's vehicles carrying scrap material and for not obstructing its business operations.
How much cash was seized from the arrested CGST official?
The CBI recovered ₹72.50 lakh in cash along with documents relating to immovable property during searches of Kumar's residential premises in Bhopal and Kanpur.
What is the separate BSNL bribery case also reported from Bhopal?
In an earlier case, the CBI arrested the Chief Engineer (Electrical) and Superintending Engineer (Electrical) of BSNL, Bhopal, for demanding ₹2 lakh each from a Jabalpur-based contractor to process pending bills for 14 works. Both were caught accepting ₹75,000 each as part payment. Searches were conducted in Bhopal, Lucknow, and Kanpur.
What happens next in the CGST bribery case?
The CBI will investigate the source of the ₹72.50 lakh cash seized and examine the immovable property documents recovered. Further arrests in associated networks have not been ruled out, according to officials. Kumar is expected to face prosecution under relevant anti-corruption statutes.
