Prayagraj: In a significant development in a high-profile corruption case, the Allahabad High Court has rejected the bail plea of Prabha Bhandari, an Indian Revenue Service officer accused in a ₹1.5 crore GST bribery case linked to alleged corruption in tax enforcement.
The order was passed by the Lucknow bench of the High Court on March 10, with the court observing that the evidence available on record did not justify granting bail at this stage.
Lucknow Bench Refuses Bail in GST Corruption Case
The matter was heard by Justice Rajeev Singh, who rejected the bail application after examining prosecution material, including electronic evidence and recorded conversations.
The bench held that no sufficient ground existed for bail in view of the available evidence.
Officer Was Posted as CGST Deputy Commissioner in Jhansi
At the time of the alleged offence, Prabha Bhandari was serving as Deputy Commissioner, Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) in Jhansi.
According to the prosecution, she and other officials allegedly demanded ₹1.5 crore from businessmen to settle a GST evasion matter.
CBI Trap Led to Recovery of ₹70 Lakh
The case gained momentum after the Central Bureau of Investigation laid a trap operation.
During the operation:
• ₹70 lakh was recovered
• The money was seized from co-accused officer Ajay Sharma
• The recovery became a key element in the prosecution case
Recorded WhatsApp Call Became Key Evidence
Opposing bail, CBI relied heavily on a recorded WhatsApp conversation allegedly involving Prabha Bhandari and a co-accused.
According to the agency, the conversation suggested:
• Acknowledgment of the bribe amount
• Discussion on handling proceeds
• References to converting money into gold
The prosecution argued that this electronic evidence completed the chain of circumstances against the accused.
Defence Argued No Direct Recovery from Officer
In her bail plea, the defence argued that:
• No direct recovery was made from Prabha Bhandari
• The case against her largely depended on statements of co-accused Ajay Sharma
• Investigation had already concluded
• Chargesheet had been filed
The defence also raised humanitarian grounds.
Pregnancy and Childcare Grounds Raised Before Court
The bail plea submitted that Prabha Bhandari:
• Is pregnant
• Has a one-year-old child
These personal circumstances were cited in support of her request for bail.
Court Notes Evidence Strong Enough to Deny Bail
The High Court, however, held that the material available at this stage did not support release on bail.
The court accepted the prosecution’s argument that electronic and circumstantial evidence required continued judicial caution.
Trial Court Directed to Expedite Proceedings
While rejecting bail, the court also took note that the accused is a woman.
Accordingly, the High Court directed the lower court to:
• Expedite the trial
• Avoid unnecessary adjournments
• Ensure early progress in proceedings
Significance of the Case
The matter has drawn attention because it involves a serving IRS officer and allegations of corruption in GST administration.
The case also highlights the growing role of digital evidence such as recorded calls and messaging records in corruption investigations.
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