Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has overturned a Special CBI Court order that had declared the arrests of three accused in an alleged ₹40 lakh bribery case involving Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) officials illegal.
The High Court has remanded the accused to two days of CBI custody, reopening the way for further interrogation in the case involving CGST Additional Commissioner Vinay Kumar Kantheti (IRS: 2009), Superintendent Rakesh Kumar Sinha (IPS: 2012: Bihar) and private individual Narinder Rajput.
High Court Sets Aside Earlier Bail Order
The case dates back to August 27, when the CBI arrested the three accused following a trap operation in Raigad.
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A Special CBI Court in Thane subsequently held that the arrests were illegal and released the accused on bail. The CBI challenged that decision before the Bombay High Court.
The High Court, after examining the arrest records, found that the grounds of arrest had been communicated to the accused and that their family members and advocates had been informed. It consequently quashed and set aside the Special Court’s order and granted the CBI custody for two days.
₹1.5 Crore Demand Allegedly Reduced to ₹40 Lakh
According to the CBI, the case originated from a complaint concerning a stone-quarrying firm’s GST and royalty-related matter.
The agency alleged that:
- CGST Superintendent Rakesh Kumar Sinha had allegedly demanded ₹1.50 crore to settle the matter.
- The amount was subsequently reduced to ₹40 lakh following negotiations.
- The CBI laid a trap on August 27.
- Private individual Narinder Rajput was allegedly caught accepting the ₹40 lakh on behalf of the two officials.
- The CBI subsequently arrested Kantheti, Sinha and Rajput.
The allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.
CBI Takes Two Into Custody, Searches for IRS Officer
Following the High Court’s latest order, the CBI took Rakesh Kumar Sinha and Narinder Rajput into custody for custodial interrogation.
The agency has also been attempting to trace Vinay Kumar Kantheti, the Additional Commissioner of CGST, after he could not be located at the time of the renewed CBI action.
Kantheti is a 2009-batch Indian Revenue Service officer serving as Additional Commissioner of CGST in Raigad.
Case Registered Under Prevention of Corruption Act
The CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch in Mumbai registered the case on August 26 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, following the complaint concerning the alleged demand for illegal gratification.
The latest High Court order allows the agency to conduct custodial interrogation as the investigation into the alleged bribery demand and the role of the accused continues.
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 Bihar 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.
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