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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
‘Main naukri mein hoon': IRS officer initially denies, then agrees to Rs 45 lakh bribe
A transcript of the recorded conversation between accused IRS officer Amit Kumar Singhal and complainant Sanam Kapoor reveals that when the complainant sought help from Singhal in the income tax notice matter by promising to pay Rs 45 lakh 'bribe', the accused initially showed some resistance by saying that he is in a job ('main hai na nokri mein hu'), but later relented. The transcript of the conversation between complainant Sanam Kapoor, co-accused Harsh Kotak and accused IRS officer Amit Kumar Singhal has been attached by the CBI in the FIR copy. The conversation was recorded in a voice recorder's memory card, which was taken by the complainant, on being told by CBI officials, to the residence of an advocate in Chandigarh, where co-accused Harsh Kotak was sitting. The conversation between Harsh Kotak and Sanam Kapoor was recorded over a discussion on Rs 45 lakh bribe. Also, Harsh Kotak let the complainant talk to Amit Kumar Singhal from his mobile phone on speaker. During the conversation, the bribe of Rs 45 lakh came up and the complainant requested Singhal to sort out the matter of income tax notice. As per the transcript of the conversation, initially, Singhal is heard denying the bribe demand, attempting to maintain a façade of integrity. However, as the conversation progresses, he appears to soften his stance and ultimately 'agrees' to the bribe proposal. The CBI had laid a trap and caught Singhal, Additional Director General at the Directorate of Taxpayer Services, New Delhi, and his associate Kotak while they were allegedly demanding the bribe. They had reportedly been harassing Kapoor, the owner of La Pino's Pizza, by sending him repeated income tax notices and then demanding Rs 45 lakh to have them withdrawn. Kapoor alerted the CBI, leading to a trap and arrest of the accused. As per CBI's remand paper submitted at Chandigarh Court on Sunday, '…role of accused Amit Kumar Singhal, is complicit as during the conversations held with complainant over telephone at the time of verification on May 30, 2025 and trap proceedings on May 31, 2025, the accused Amit kumar Singhal acknowledged the demand of bribe amount of Rs 45 lakh raised by him in exchange for extending favourable treatment from the Revenue/lncome Tax Department and subsequently accepted bribe amount of Rs 25 Lakhs from complainant through co- accused Harsh Kotak'.
New Indian Express
4 days 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
5 days ago
- Time of India
CBI arrests IRS officer, middleman for taking Rs 25L in bribe
1 2 3 Chandigarh: The CBI arrested a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer from Delhi and a middleman from Mohali for allegedly accepting a first instalment of a bribe of Rs 25 lakhs from the owner of a famous food chain for favouring him in taxation late on Saturday night. CBI sleuths conducted raids at the residences of the IRS officer in Mumbai, Mohali, and Delhi and claimed to have recovered cash and gold worth crores. The CBI produced both accused before the special CBI court, which sent them to judicial custody for 14 days. The accused are a 2007 batch IRS officer, Amit Kumar Singhal, a resident of Delhi, and Harsh Kotak, a resident of Mumbai. Amit Singhal is presently posted as additional director general, Directorate of Taxpayer Services, New Delhi. The complainant, Sanam Kapoor, owner of a food chain, alleged that the accused officer demanded Rs 45 lakhs for extending favourable treatment from the revenue/income tax department. The accused also allegedly threatened the complainant with legal action, the imposition of heavy penalties, and harassment in case of non-payment of bribe. The complainant filed a complaint with the CBI against the accused IRS officer and his associate, Harsh Kotak. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Zumbido e perda de audição? Médico revela técnica caseira de 1 real para aliviar! Zumbido no ouvido Undo Upon receiving the information, the CBI set a trap and caught Harsh Kotak red-handed while accepting the bribe in Mohali. Following his interrogation, IRS officer Amit Kumar was also taken into custody from Delhi. Major revelations emerged as the CBI laid a trap in Mohali and caught Harsh Kotak red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakhs on behalf of IRS officer Amit Singhal. Later, the CBI team arrested Amit Singhal in Delhi. Subsequently, the CBI conducted raids at the residences of the accused IRS officer and middleman in Delhi, Mumbai, and Mohali, recovering Rs 1 crore cash, 3kg gold jewellery worth Rs 3.5 crore, over 2kg silver and other important documents. A case was registered by the CBI against the accused on allegations that the public servant demanded illegal gratification of Rs 45 lakh from the complainant under the sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. This is the CBI's second high-profile arrest in five months. Previously, in December 2023, Shimla ED's Assistant Director, Vishaldeep, was arrested for demanding a bribe of Rs 2.5 crores. MSID:: 121550356 413 |
India Gazette
5 days ago
- India Gazette
CBI arrests senior IRS officer for accepting Rs 25 lakh bribe
New Delhi [India] June 1 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) Officer, presently posted as Additional Director General in the Directorate of Tax Payer Services, New Delhi. The officer, identified as Amit Kumar Singhal and a private person, identified as Harsh Kotak, were charged with demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh as part payment of the total bribe of Rs 45 lakh demanded from the complainant. This comes after the CBI registered a case against the accused on Saturday. In the case, it was alleged that the accused public servant had demanded illegal gratification of Rs 45 lakh from the complainant instead of providing favourable treatment from the Revenue/Income Tax Department. According to the CBI, the demand was accompanied by threats of legal action, the imposition of heavy penalties, and harassment in case of non-compliance. The bribe was allegedly sought in return for favourable action from the Income Tax Department, with threats of legal consequences and harassment in case of non-compliance. The CBI laid a trap and caught them red-handed while accepting a bribe on behalf of the officer at the officer's residence in Mohali. Shortly after, the IRS officer was arrested at his residence in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. According to the agency, the officer had assured 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 the accused were arrested and will be produced before the competent court, the agency said. Following the arrest, the CBI conducted searches at multiple locations in Delhi, Punjab, and Mumbai in connection with the case. Officials confirmed that documents and digital evidence related to the bribery charges were being seized and examined. The official said that they are conducting searches at multiple locations across Delhi, Punjab, and Mumbai. The investigation into the matter is still underway. (ANI)
India Today
5 days 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
