CBI Arrests ADG of Directorate of Taxpayer Services and Middleman; Raids Conducted in Delhi, Punjab & Mumbai
In a major anti-corruption operation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Amit Kumar Singhal, a 2007-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer serving as Additional Director General (ADG), Directorate of Taxpayer Services, along with a private individual Harsh Kotak, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹25 lakh.
₹45 Lakh Bribe Demanded for Favourable Treatment
According to the CBI, Singhal demanded ₹45 lakh from a complainant in exchange for favourable action by the Revenue and Income Tax Department. The officer reportedly warned of legal repercussions, including penalties and harassment, if the bribe was not paid.
Following verification of the allegations, the CBI registered an FIR on May 31, 2025, and initiated a trap operation that resulted in the arrest of Harsh Kotak while he was allegedly accepting ₹25 lakh in cash—part of the total bribe amount.
Caught Red-Handed in Mohali
The bribe was reportedly accepted at Singhal’s residence in Mohali, where Kotak was apprehended red-handed. Singhal was subsequently arrested at his home in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. Both accused were taken into custody and will be presented before a competent court.
Multi-City Raids Underway
CBI teams also carried out simultaneous searches at multiple locations associated with the case in Delhi, Punjab, and Mumbai, as part of efforts to uncover additional evidence and links to a possible wider corruption network.
Official Statement from CBI
“The CBI has arrested two accused, including a senior IRS officer of the 2007 batch, currently posted as ADG, Directorate of Taxpayer Services, New Delhi, and a private individual, for demanding and accepting a ₹25 lakh bribe from the complainant,” the agency confirmed in an official release.
