CBI arrests IRS officer, 2 others in Rs 40 lakh bribery case

In Maharashtra, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Vinay Kumar Kantheti (IRS-2009), Additional Commissioner of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST), in Raigad district, along with Rakesh Kumar Sinha, Superintendent of CGST, Raigad, and Narinder Rajput ( private person) , on Thursday, August  27,2026, in a bribery case.
The CBI registered the instant case on 26 August against the accused  Superintendent of CGST on the allegations that he had demanded an undue advantage of Rs.1.50 Crore for settling the GST/royalty matter relating to the stone-quarrying firm of the complainant. After negotiation, the demand was subsequently reduced to Rs. 40 Lakh. The accused had arranged for collection of the bribe amount through a private person and accordingly directed the complainant. The CBI laid a trap and caught the accused private person red-handed while accepting Rs. 40 Lakh.
The acceptance of the bribe amount was subsequently acknowledged by the accused Superintendent of CGST as well as the Additional Commissioner of CGST, said CBI in a statement. All the three accused persons have been arrested.Searches conducted at the premises of the accused persons resulted in the further recovery of cash amounting to Rs. 43 Lakh and jewellery worth approximately Rs. 90 Lakh.

(Freelance Journalist)