₹15 Lakh Bribe Trap: CBI Arrests Mumbai Income Tax Inspector; ₹11 Lakh Cash Recovered in Searches
Accused Allegedly Demanded ₹20 Lakh to Close Benami Property Matter; Court Remands Him to Two-Day Police Custody
(By Judicial Quest News Network)
MUMBAI: 28, October,2028- In a significant anti-corruption operation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an Income Tax Inspector posted in the Investigation Wing at Scindia House, Mumbai, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹15 lakh in connection with a benami property case pending before the Income Tax Department’s Benami Prohibition Unit.
The arrest followed a carefully laid trap by the CBI on October 27, 2026, when the accused was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting the bribe from a Mumbai-based complainant.
The operation has brought renewed focus on the imperative of integrity, transparency and accountability in the functioning of public offices entrusted with enforcing tax laws.
Alleged Demand of ₹20 Lakh to Close Benami Property Case
According to the CBI, the case was registered on October 27, 2026, against the Income Tax Inspector and unknown others on the basis of a complaint lodged by a Mumbai-based individual.
The complaint alleged that the Inspector had demanded a bribe of ₹20 lakh from the complainant in exchange for getting a matter relating to a benami property, pending with the Benami Prohibition Unit of the Income Tax Department, closed.
Following negotiations, the accused allegedly agreed to accept ₹15 lakh instead of the originally demanded amount.
Acting on the complaint, the CBI initiated its trap proceedings on the same day. During the operation, the Inspector was allegedly apprehended while accepting the agreed bribe amount of ₹15 lakh from the complainant.
The arrest marks a crucial development in the investigation into the alleged misuse of official position for obtaining an unlawful pecuniary advantage.
Searches Yield ₹11 Lakh in Cash, Incriminating Documents
Following the arrest, the CBI conducted searches at premises associated with the accused. The searches reportedly resulted in the recovery of cash amounting to ₹11 lakh, along with documents described as incriminating by the investigating agency.
The recovered material is expected to form part of the continuing investigation, as the agency examines the circumstances surrounding the alleged demand and acceptance of the bribe, as well as any possible involvement of other persons.
The CBI has not indicated that the investigation has concluded, and further investigative steps remain underway.
Court Orders Two-Day Police Custody
The arrested Inspector was produced before the competent court in Mumbai on October 28, 2026. After considering the matter, the court remanded him to police custody for two days, until October 30, 2026.
The custodial remand is expected to facilitate further investigation into the allegations and enable the CBI to examine the evidence collected during the trap operation and subsequent searches.
The investigation is continuing, and the agency is expected to pursue all relevant leads to establish the full facts of the case.
A Test of Public Accountability
The case once again underscores the importance of vigilance in public administration, particularly in departments exercising significant statutory powers over citizens and their property.
Allegations that an official sought money to secure the closure of a pending benami property matter raise serious questions about the integrity of administrative processes. At the same time, the allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial scrutiny, and the accused is entitled to the protections afforded by law.
The CBI has stated that further investigation is in progress.
