GST officers caught red-handed taking 70 lakh bribe; Here is how CBI trapped them
Deputy Commissioner Prabha Bhandari and others were arrested for demanding Rs 1.5 crore to settle GST evasion cases. Raids recovered Rs 1.6 crore cash, jewellery, and bullion, with investigations ongoing into the widespread syndicate.
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has dismantled a major bribery racket operating within the Central Goods & Services Tax (CGST) office in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
On December 30, 2025, the CBI successfully laid a trap, catching top-ranking officials red-handed as they attempted to extort a staggering sum to settle GST evasion cases.
The Rs 70 lakh "red-handed" trap
The investigation reveals that the accused had allegedly demanded an "undue advantage" of Rs 1.5 crore from private firms in exchange for leniency in ongoing GST evasion matters. The CBI moved swiftly, intercepting the transaction as Rs 70 lakh changed hands.
Five arrested accused
According to the CBI, the accused have been identified as Prabha Bhandari (IRS-C&IT 2016), posted as Deputy Commissioner, CGST, Jhansi. She has been accused of masterminding the fraud.
The other officers involved in the fraud have been identified as Anil Tiwari, Superintendent, CGST Jhansi; Ajay Kumar Sharma, Superintendent, CGST Jhansi; Raju Mangtani, Owner of M/S Jai Durga Hardware (a Private individual/Company owner); and Naresh Kumar Gupta, an advocate (a Private individual acting as a middleman).
Rs 1.6 crore in cash and bullion recovered
The arrests in the GSt fraud were only the beginning. Following the trap, the CBI conducted extensive raids at multiple locations, leading to a massive recovery of illicit assets. The investigating agency seized a cash amount of Rs 1.60 crore total (Rs 70 lakh from the trap plus an additional Rs 90 lakh found during searches).
Also, a huge haul of Jewellery, Bullion (Gold/Silver), and various property documents was uncovered during searches.
Searches continue
The investigation is ongoing, and the CBI continues to search for further leads to determine if this syndicate extends deeper into the department. The accused will be presented before the jurisdictional courts following mandatory medical examinations.