CBI Traps CGST Officer Red-Handed Taking ₹5 Lakh Bribe to Bury ₹98 Lakh Tax Demand

Mumbai, December 28, 2025 – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Mumbai CGST superintendent for allegedly accepting a ₹5 lakh bribe to suppress a fabricated ₹98 lakh tax demand against a private company. The officer, Ankit Aggarwal of CGST Audit-1 Mumbai, was caught red-handed during a sting operation initiated after the firm’s director lodged a complaint.

Bribe Demand and Arrest

According to the CBI, Aggarwal had audited the company on November 26 and threatened to impose a massive tax liability unless he received a payoff. The officer initially demanded ₹20 lakh but eventually agreed to ₹17 lakh as a “settlement.” The CBI intervened and caught him accepting the first installment of ₹5 lakh.

Raid Reveals Hidden Assets

Following the arrest, the CBI conducted searches at Aggarwal’s premises, uncovering significant unaccounted assets:

• ₹18.30 lakh in cash
• Property documents totaling ₹72.41 lakh, including deeds from April 2025 (₹40.31 lakh) and June 2024 (₹32.10 lakh)
• Digital files suggesting manipulated audit reports linked to the complainant company

These findings reinforce the CBI’s claim that the bribe was part of a larger scheme to exploit post-audit authority.

Pattern of Tax Bribery

Investigators highlighted that such coercion is increasingly common in GST audits, where officials inflate tax demands to extract illegal payments. The case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and a broader probe is underway to identify potential accomplices.

Rising Concerns Over Mumbai’s Tax Corruption

Mumbai has emerged as a hotspot for tax-related corruption, with 15 CGST officials arrested in 2025 for similar scams involving fake refunds and input tax credit frauds. Reports indicate that officials often demand 10–20% of “settled” liabilities, sometimes routed through hawala or cryptocurrency channels.

Guidance for Businesses

Companies are advised to remain vigilant:

• Verify sudden large tax demands via the GST portal
• Report “settlement offers” to the CBI at cbi.gov.in/complaint
• Address delays or refund holds through gst.gov.in
• CBI Anti-Corruption Hotline: 011-2436-7800

The CBI has emphasized a zero-tolerance approach toward corruption in tax departments, aiming to curb the growing misuse of audit authority for personal gain.