The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) caught a Mumbai CGST superintendent accepting ₹5 lakh bribe—part of a demanded ₹17 lakh payoff—to squash a fabricated ₹98 lakh tax notice against a private firm. Ankit Aggarwal, from CGST Audit-1 Mumbai, was nabbed Monday during a sting operation based on the firm’s director’s complaint.
Aggarwal allegedly audited the company on November 26, then threatened a massive tax demand unless paid off. After bargaining down from ₹20 lakh, he settled for ₹17 lakh to “settle” and reduce liability. CBI laid the trap when he took the first ₹5 lakh installment.
Raid Uncovers ₹90 Lakh in Dirty Cash & Assets
Searches at Aggarwal’s premises yielded:
- ₹18.30 lakh unaccounted cash
- Property deeds: ₹40.31 lakh (April 2025), ₹32.10 lakh (June 2024)—total ₹72.41 lakh
- Digital evidence of manipulated audit reports
CBI seized files from his office linking the tampered report to the complainant firm.
Anatomy of a Tax Terror Tactic
Aggarwal exploited post-audit leverage—common in GST evasion probes where officials inflate demands for kickbacks. Firm director reported the shakedown; CBI verified via sting. Case registered under Prevention of Corruption Act.
This mirrors rising GST corruption: I-T raids on 100+ officials in 2025 unearthed ₹500 Cr hawala networks tied to bogus refunds.[web: from prior searches]
Mumbai’s Tax Bribe Belt
CGST Mumbai tops CBI’s graft chart—2025 saw 15 arrests for refund scams, input tax credit frauds. Officials demand 10-20% cuts on “settled” liabilities, routing via hawala/crypto.
Victim firms stay silent fearing probes; whistleblowers like this director risk audits. CBI vows “zero tolerance,” but insiders leak: “Audit pressure cooker—pay or perish.”
Protect Your Business: Red Flags & Remedies
- Sudden huge demands post-audit? Verify independently via GST portal.
- “Settle out-of-court” offers? Record/report to CBI (cbi.gov.in/complaint).
- Unexplained delays/refund halts? File grievance at gst.gov.in.
- Hotline: CBI Anti-Corruption: 011-2436-7800.
Aggarwal faces court; deeper probe eyes accomplices. As businesses reel under 18% GST regime, CBI’s net tightens on the bribe bazaar fueling fake notices.
