Did CBI Arrest Two CGST Officers in Mumbai for Accepting a Rs 25,000 Bribe?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two CGST officers arrested for a Rs 25,000 bribe.
- CBI's commitment to fighting corruption.
- Investigation into possible additional officials involved.
- Encouragement for citizens to report bribery.
- Recent crackdown on corruption in multiple government sectors.
Mumbai, Oct 8 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced on Wednesday the apprehension of a Superintendent and an Inspector from the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) in Mumbai for purportedly soliciting and receiving a bribe of Rs 25,000 from a businessman.
As per a statement from the CBI, the identified officials are Superintendent Vikram and Inspector Lav Kumar Chittoria, both assigned to the CGST Santacruz Division.
The investigation was initiated following a complaint from a textile trader who had submitted an online application for GST registration on September 24, the statement detailed.
The complainant alleged that during a field inspection on October 3, Chittoria demanded Rs 25,000 as an illegal payment for himself and his superior.
It was claimed that the officers threatened that the GST registration certificate would not be issued unless the bribe was remitted.
In response to the complaint, the CBI set up a sting operation and apprehended both individuals in the act of accepting the bribe inside the CGST West Mumbai Office on Tuesday.
The bribe amount was recovered from them. Following their arrest, searches were conducted at their offices and residences, during which several incriminating documents were seized.
A CBI spokesperson stated that both officials are in custody for interrogation and will be presented before a competent court in Mumbai later today.
"Further investigation is ongoing to ascertain if other officials were part of this bribery scheme and to explore connections with similar cases," added the official.
The agency reaffirmed its strict stance against corruption within government sectors and encouraged citizens to report any instances of bribery through its dedicated helpline and online platform.
Recently, in a broader crackdown on corruption in government offices, the CBI arrested two senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and a railway hospital in two separate bribery incidents.