CBI Arrests CGST Superintendent for Alleged ₹2 Lakh Bribe, Seizes ₹72.50 Lakh Cash

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Central GST (CGST) and Central Excise superintendent in Bhopal for allegedly accepting a ₹2 lakh bribe from a scrap company representative. The agency also recovered ₹72.50 lakh in cash during searches at residential premises in Bhopal and Kanpur, officials said on Sunday.

The arrested official, Rajesh Kumar, was posted as Superintendent in the Preventive Branch (Headquarters) of the CGST and Central Excise Commissionerate in Bhopal. According to the CBI, he was caught red-handed while accepting the alleged bribe on Saturday.

The agency registered the case following a complaint from a representative of a Bhopal-based firm dealing in scrap. The complainant alleged that Kumar had demanded a monthly bribe of ₹2 lakh in exchange for not intercepting the company’s vehicles carrying scrap material and not obstructing its business operations.

Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap and caught the superintendent while he was allegedly accepting the money.

Subsequent searches at the accused official’s residential premises in Bhopal and Kanpur led to the recovery of ₹72.50 lakh in cash, along with documents relating to immovable properties, the agency said.

In a separate case in Bhopal, the CBI had arrested the Chief Engineer (Electrical) and Superintending Engineer (Electrical) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for allegedly accepting bribes.

According to the agency, the two officials had allegedly demanded ₹2 lakh each for themselves and a co-accused from a Jabalpur-based firm involved in Operation and Comprehensive Maintenance (OCM) and electrical installation work for BSNL.

The alleged bribe was sought to process pending bills relating to 14 separate works executed by the firm.

The CBI laid a trap and caught both officials red-handed in Bhopal while they were allegedly accepting ₹75,000 each as part payment of the demanded bribe.

The agency also conducted searches at the residential and office premises of the accused in Bhopal, Lucknow and Kanpur.

Both cases are being investigated by the CBI.