In a major anti-corruption operation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested two officials of the Central GST (CGST) department in Jabalpur after catching them red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹4 lakh. The accused officials had allegedly demanded a total bribe of ₹10 lakh from a hotel businessman to settle disputed tax transactions.
CGST Inspector, Superintendent Nabbed
The arrested officials have been identified as CGST Inspector Sachin Khare and Superintendent Mukesh Barman, both posted at the Deputy Commissioner’s office of the CGST department in Jabalpur. The arrests were made near Narmada Road, close to Big Bazaar, during a carefully planned trap operation on Wednesday evening.
Bribe Linked to OYO Transaction Settlement
According to CBI sources, the case revolves around hotelier Vivek Tripathi, whose hotel operations included transactions through the OYO platform. CGST officials had reportedly raised objections to these transactions and issued a recovery notice of nearly ₹1 crore, citing alleged irregularities.
Investigators said the officials demanded ₹10 lakh through a chartered accountant to either drop the recovery proceedings or substantially reduce the amount. The ₹4 lakh was agreed upon as the first installment of the bribe.
Trap Laid After Complaint
Distressed by the demand, the hotel businessman approached the CBI and lodged a formal complaint. After preliminary verification confirmed the allegations, the agency laid a trap. As soon as the complainant handed over the bribe money to Inspector Sachin Khare at the pre-decided location, the CBI team moved in and caught him red-handed. Superintendent Mukesh Barman, who arrived shortly thereafter, was also taken into custody.
Searches Conducted at Office and Residences
Following the arrests, CBI teams carried out searches at the CGST office on Gaurighat Road, where mobile phones of staff were collected and key documents seized for examination. Simultaneous raids were also conducted at the residences of the arrested officials.
More Officials Under Scanner
CBI sources indicated that the investigation is not limited to the two arrested officials. The role of other CGST officers, including that of an Assistant Commissioner, is under scrutiny. Further arrests or questioning cannot be ruled out as the probe progresses.
