Patna: In a significant crackdown on corruption within the Income Tax Department, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday formally arrested Aditya Saurabh, a 2021-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, along with an Income-Tax Inspector and a Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) member in Patna. The arrests were made in connection with an alleged bribe of Rs 2 lakh demanded from a Hyderabad-based company.
All three accused were produced before the CBI Special Court-1 in Patna, which granted the agency three days’ custody for interrogation.
IRS Officer Nabbed Following Trap Operation
Aditya Saurabh, currently serving as Assistant Director in the Income Tax Department, Patna, is accused of demanding a bribe of Rs 2 lakh to facilitate the release of Rs 13 lakh previously seized from the complainant’s brother-in-law at the airport. He also allegedly promised not to initiate further inquiries in the matter.
Following a complaint lodged with the CBI, the agency registered an FIR on July 15, 2025, and laid a trap operation in coordination with the complainant. The bribe money was handed over in a lane behind the Patna High Court on Tuesday evening, where the accused were caught red-handed.
Role of Co-Accused Revealed During Interrogation
The case initially led to the arrest of–
- Manish Kumar Pankaj, Income-Tax Inspector
- Shubham Raj, Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS)
Subsequent interrogation revealed that the bribe was being collected at the direction and on behalf of Aditya Saurabh, prompting the CBI to arrest the IRS officer as well.
Rs 2 Lakh Recovered; Raids Conducted Across Patna
A CBI press release confirmed that the entire Rs 2 lakh bribe amount was recovered during the operation. Searches were carried out at three locations in Patna associated with the accused individuals. Officials are now examining documentary evidence, mobile call recordings, and other electronic data to build the case further.
Official Statement from CBI
“CBI registered an instant case on July 15, 2025, against the said accused persons on allegations of demand and acceptance of a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from the complainant for the release of a previously seized amount of Rs 13 lakh and for not initiating any further inquiry against him,” the CBI statement read.
The case has stirred attention, especially given the involvement of a young IRS officer only a few years into service, raising questions about internal checks and ethics enforcement within the tax department.
