In a decisive action against corruption, the Central
Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Superintendent of the Central
Goods and Services Tax (CGST) & Central Excise Commissionerate in
Nashik, Maharashtra, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh. The arrest is part of a larger case involving a demand for
a significant sum to settle a matter related to Integrated GST (IGST) input
for a private company.
Details of the Corruption Case
The arrested official has been identified as Hari Prakash
Sharma, Superintendent, CGST & Central Excise, Nashik Commissionerate.
The case, registered by the CBI, outlines a clear sequence of events:
v Initial Demand: The accused officer initially demanded
an undue advantage of ₹50 lakh from a representative of a private
firm.
v The Quid Pro Quo: The bribe was sought as a price for not
taking any legal action against the complainant's private company
concerning an alleged irregularity in their IGST input matter.
v Negotiation: The demanded amount was subsequently
negotiated down by the Superintendent to ₹22 lakh.
v Payment Schedule: The accused allegedly directed the
complainant to deliver the amount in two installments: ₹5 lakh immediately and the remaining ₹17 lakh a few days later.
The CBI Trap and Arrest
Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap operation
on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
v The CGST Superintendent, Hari Prakash
Sharma, was caught red-handed outside his office in Nashik while accepting
the initial installment of ₹5 lakh from the complainant.
v He was immediately taken into custody.
Searches and Recovery
Following the arrest, the CBI conducted simultaneous searches
at the residential and official premises of the accused officer. These searches
yielded substantial evidence:
v A recovery of ₹19 lakh in cash.
v Seizure of various incriminating
documents related to the case.
The significant recovery of unaccounted cash further
strengthens the allegations of illicit enrichment and misuse of public office.
Legal Outcome
The arrested accused was produced before the jurisdictional
court in Pune, which remanded him to police custody until October
17, 2025, to allow the CBI further time to investigate the matter and uncover
any potential co-conspirators or other acts of corruption.
Broader Implication for the Tax System
This high-profile arrest highlights the ongoing challenges of
corruption within the tax administration. Such incidents undermine the
efforts to create a transparent and streamlined tax environment under the GST
regime. They underscore the necessity for continued vigilance and strong
anti-corruption measures by agencies like the CBI to ensure that public servants
uphold their duty of ethical and legal conduct, particularly in sensitive areas
like tax enforcement and assessment.
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