Senior IRS officer arrested by CBI for demanding Rs 25 lakh bribe in tax case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Amit Kumar Singal and private individual Harsh Kotak for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh. Singal, a 2007 batch officer currently serving as Additional Director General at the Directorate of Taxpayer Services in Delhi, was taken into custody from his residence in Vasant Kunj. Kotak was caught at the public servant’s residence in Mohali during a trap laid by the agency.

The accused duo had initially demanded Rs 45 lakh from a complainant, offering to provide favorable treatment related to Income Tax Department matters. The complainant was reportedly threatened with legal action, punitive penalties, and continued harassment if he failed to comply with the bribe demand. The complainant approached the CBI, which registered a case on May 31 and initiated an investigation.

During the operation, the CBI caught Kotak red-handed while accepting Rs 25 lakh, the first installment of the bribe, at Singal’s residence in Mohali. Both accused were subsequently arrested and produced before the concerned court. Following the arrests, the CBI conducted searches at multiple locations linked to the accused across Delhi, Punjab, and Mumbai.

Officials stated that the investigation is ongoing to determine the full scope of the alleged corruption. The CBI spokesperson said, “CBI laid a trap and caught accused private person red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from the complainant on behalf of accused public servant.” The spokesperson confirmed that the public servant was also apprehended from his residence.

The case highlights the CBI’s active role in investigating corruption allegations within the tax administration. The agency continues its efforts to uncover any further involvement and connections related to the bribery case.