Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a 2009-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer serving as Additional Commissioner of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, along with a CGST Superintendent and a private individual, in an alleged ₹40 lakh bribery case.
The accused have been identified as Vinay Kumar Kantheti (IRS: 2009), Additional Commissioner of CGST, Raigad; Rakesh Kumar Sinha (IPS: 2012: Bihar), Superintendent of CGST, Raigad; and Narinder Rajput, a private individual.
According to the CBI, the case relates to an alleged demand for money to settle a GST and royalty-related matter involving a stone-quarrying firm. The agency registered the case on August 26 following a complaint against Sinha.
Bribe demand allegedly reduced from ₹1.5 crore to ₹40 lakh
The CBI alleged that an initial demand of ₹1.50 crore was made in connection with the matter. Following negotiations, the alleged demand was reduced to ₹40 lakh.
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The accused public servants allegedly arranged for the amount to be collected through the private individual. The CBI subsequently laid a trap and caught Rajput while allegedly accepting the ₹40 lakh.
The agency said the acceptance of the alleged bribe was subsequently acknowledged by Sinha and Kantheti.
“The accused public servants had arranged for collection of the bribe amount through a private person and accordingly directed the complainant. The CBI laid a trap and caught the accused private person red-handed while accepting an undue advantage of Rs 40 Lakh.”
Searches yield ₹43 lakh cash, jewellery worth ₹90 lakh
Following the arrests, the CBI conducted searches at the premises linked to the accused.
The searches resulted in the recovery of ₹43 lakh in cash and jewellery valued at approximately ₹90 lakh, according to the agency. The investigation is continuing.
Thane court holds arrests illegal, rejects CBI custody plea
The three accused were subsequently produced before a Special Court in Thane, where the CBI sought five days of custodial interrogation.
The court rejected the request and held that the arrests were not legally valid, citing deficiencies concerning the communication of the grounds and reasons for arrest. It also noted that the alleged bribe money had already been seized and mobile phones had been recovered from the accused.
The court ordered their release on personal bonds of ₹15,000 each, along with sureties of a similar amount, and directed them to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
The CBI has indicated that it intends to challenge the court’s order while maintaining that it has evidence relating to the alleged demand and acceptance of the bribe.
Background of the Officers
Vinay Kumar Kantheti: Kantheti is a 2009-batch Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) officer and was serving as Additional Commissioner of CGST in Raigad, Maharashtra, at the time of the CBI action.
Rakesh Kumar Sinha: Sinha, a 2012-batch IPS officer from the cadre, was serving as a Superintendent of CGST in Raigad when the CBI registered the bribery case. He has a B. Tech in Civil Engineering.
