Did the CBI Just Arrest an IRS Officer for Bribery?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two individuals arrested in a bribery case involving Rs 25 lakh.
- IRS officer Amit Kumar Singal and aide Harsh Kotak are the accused.
- CBI launched an investigation based on allegations of illegal gratification.
- Search operations conducted at multiple locations post-arrest.
- Further inquiries are ongoing to uncover the extent of corruption.
New Delhi, June 1 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended two individuals, comprising a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and his associate, for soliciting and receiving a bribe amounting to Rs 25 lakh.
The individuals involved have been identified as Amit Kumar Singal, a senior IRS officer from the 2007 batch, currently serving as the Additional Director General at the Directorate of Taxpayer Services in New Delhi, along with his aide, Harsh Kotak, as per the statement from the CBI.
The pair was taken into custody for demanding and accepting Rs 25 lakh as an initial payment towards a total bribe of Rs 45 lakh from a complainant.
The CBI initiated an investigation on Saturday following allegations that the accused public servant sought illegal gains of Rs 45 lakh from the complainant in return for favorable treatment from the Revenue/Income Tax Department.
According to the investigative agency, "The demand was coupled with threats of legal repercussions, hefty penalties, and harassment if the complainant failed to comply."
The CBI set up a trap and caught the accused private individual red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 25 lakh from the complainant at Singal's residence in Mohali, Punjab.
Singal was also arrested at his residence in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.
Following their arrests, the CBI announced that both suspects would be presented before the Competent Court.
Subsequent to the arrests, CBI teams conducted search operations at various locations associated with the two suspects in Delhi, Punjab, and Mumbai.
The agency confirmed that operations are ongoing, and further inquiries are being conducted to reveal the complete scope of the corruption.