Latest news with #CentralBureauofInvestigation
New Indian Express
7 hours ago
- New Indian Express
CBI arrests IRS officer for accepting Rs 25L bribe on tax relief promise
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a 2007-batch Indian Revenue Service Officer Amit Kumar Singal, who was presently posted as the Additional Director General in the Directorate of Taxpayer Services, New Delhi. Along with him, another individual identified as Harsh Kotak, was charged with demanding and accepting Rs 25 lakh as a bribe. This Rs 25 lakh, according to the CBI, was a part of the payment of the total Rs 45 lakh in bribe demanded from the complainant. A case was registered against the accused earlier on Saturday. It was alleged in the FIR that the accused, as a public servant, had demanded illegal gratification of Rs 45 lakh from the complainant. This was in exchange for providing favourable treatment from the Revenue/Income Tax Department. Further, according to the CBI, the demand was accompanied by threats of legal action, heavy penalties and harassment in case the complainant refused to comply. The CBI laid a trap and caught Harsh Kotak, associate of Singal, while accepting a bribe from the complainant on behalf of the IRS officer at Singal's Mohali residence. Later that day, Singal was also arrested at his residence in Vasant Kunj, the CBI said. According to the officials, the IRS officer had assured the complainant a relief in tax matters in exchange for the bribe and had warned of 'legal action, heavy penalties, and harassment' if the demand was not met. Both Singhal and Kotak were arrested and will be produced before the competent court, the CBI said. The arrest was followed by a thorough search by CBI at multiple locations in Delhi, Punjab, and Mumbai, as part of the probe into the case. Officials also confirmed that the documents and digital evidence related to the bribery case were being seized and examined. Investigations by CBI into the matter are still underway, the officials said.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
CBI arrests IRS officer, businessman in bribery case
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, Amit Singal, along with a businessman, Harsh Kotak, in connection with an alleged bribery case. Singal, a 2007-batch IRS officer, currently posted as additional director general in the Directorate of Taxpayer Services, New Delhi, was apprehended from his residence in Vasant Kunj, south Delhi. The duo is accused of demanding a Rs 45 lakh bribe and accepting Rs 25 lakh as part payment from a complainant. The CBI acted following a complaint by businessman Sanam Kapoor, the owner of the La Pino'z pizza chain. According to Kapoor's counsel, Gagandeep Jammu, Kapoor was being harassed with official notices after a business dispute. In 2017, Kapoor had entered into a franchise agreement with Mumbai-based businessman Harsh Kotak, who was allegedly partnering with Singal's mother in the venture. "The harassment started last year after Kapoor discovered that Kotak started procuring raw materials from other sources at cheaper rates, violating their agreement. Though Kapoor had the option to terminate the franchisee contract, he was coerced into buying it back for Rs 1.6 crores, which was substantially higher than the original value of Rs 25 lakh," Jammu said. The complainant was allegedly harassed through repeated notices from the Income Tax and Food Safety departments. Eventually, a bribe of Rs 45 lakh was allegedly demanded by Singal to 'close the notice', Jammu said. On May 30, Kotak met Kapoor in Chandigarh and called him to Singal's Mohali residence with the bribe, it has been alleged. This was when the complainant sought CBI's help. According to a statement issued by CBI, a case was registered on May 31 against the accused on allegations that the accused—a public servant—demanded illegal gratification of Rs 45 lakh from the complainant in exchange for extending favourable treatment from the Revenue/Income Tax Department. The demand was accompanied by threats of legal action, imposition of heavy penalties, and harassment in case of non-compliance. "Subsequently, the CBI laid a trap and caught the accused private individual, Harsh Kotak, red-handed while he was demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from the complainant on behalf of the public servant, at the latter's residence in Mohali," the CBI said. The agency subsequently nabbed Singal from his Delhi residence and seized 2.5 kg of gold jewellery and Rs 30 lakh in cash during searches, sources said. Both accused were arrested and produced before the court. Searches are being conducted by CBI at multiple locations across Delhi, Punjab, and Mumbai in this case.
New Indian Express
18 hours ago
- New Indian Express
CBI arrests two including senior IRS officer for Rs 25 lakh bribe case
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the 2007 batch Amit Kumar Singal, who is currently posted as Additional Director General, Directorate of Taxpayer Services in New Delhi for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh, officials said on Sunday. One more person was also arrested in the case The CBI action comes after the agency registered a case against the accused on Saturday. In its FIR, CBI stated that the accused, a public servant, had demanded illegal gratification of Rs 45 lakh from the complainant for providing favourable treatment from the Revenue/Income Tax Department. Following a complaint regarding the alleged bribe demand, the CBI laid a trap and arrested a private individual, Harsh Kotak, who was reportedly caught accepting the bribe on Singal's behalf at the latter's Mohali residence, officials said. Singal was arrested from his residence in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. Both the accused will be produced before the competent court, the agency said. Following Singal's arrest CBI sleuths have been conducting searches at multiple locations across Delhi, Punjab and Mumbai as part of their probe into the case. Officials confirmed that documents and digital evidence related to the bribery charges were being seized during the searches and are being examined.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Mining scam case: BJP leader Gali Janardhan Reddy's plea 'bizarre attempt' to use electorate as shield, CBI tells HC
HYDERABAD: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has strongly opposed the plea filed by Gali Janardhan Reddy, MLA and accused no. 2 in the high-profile Obulapuram Mining Case, seeking suspension of his conviction. In a detailed counter filed before the High Court, the CBI urged dismissal of the criminal appeal and accompanying interlocutory application, arguing that Reddy had failed to establish any exceptional grounds warranting such relief. Reddy was convicted by the trial court under Sections 120-B read with Sections 409 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years, with all sentences running concurrently. The trial court had categorically held that the prosecution had proved the charges eyond reasonable doubt, backed by substantial evidence, including witness testimonies and documentary records. The CBI emphasised that Reddy is also facing trial in several similar criminal cases in the state of Karnataka. The agency further pointed out that in his present plea, Reddy had not cited a single mitigating factor to support his case for suspension of conviction. Notably, the appeal merely contains a one-line statement alleging harm if the conviction is not stayed - without any supporting affidavit or specific details. 'In the absence of demonstrated exceptional circumstances, the case does not qualify for suspension of conviction,' the CBI submitted.
India Today
a day ago
- India Today
CBI arrests senior revenue officer, his aide for accepting Rs 45 lakh bribe
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Additional Director General Amit Kumar Singhal, who was posted to the Directorate of Taxpayer Services, and another person for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25, the central agency said on a 2007-batch IRS officer, was arrested from his residence in New Delhi's Vasant Kunj area. The second accused has been identified as Harsh Kotak. advertisementAccording to CBI, a case was registered on May 31, 2025, following allegations that Singal had demanded illegal gratification amounting to Rs 45 lakh from the complainant. In exchange, he allegedly promised favourable treatment from the Revenue and Income Tax Department. "The demand for the bribe was accompanied by threats of legal action, imposition of heavy penalties, and harassment in case of non-compliance," a CBI statement read. Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap and caught Harsh Kotak red-handed while accepting Rs 25 lakh in cash as partial payment of the total demanded bribe. The transaction reportedly took place at the IRS officer's residence in the accused be produced before a competent court. Simultaneously, CBI teams are conducting searches at multiple locations across Delhi, Punjab, and Mumbai in connection with the Watch
