The Bombay High Court has set aside a Thane special court order that granted bail to three accused in an alleged ₹40 lakh bribery case involving Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) officials.
The high court allowed a criminal revision application filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had challenged the lower court’s decision to release the accused after their arrests were declared illegal.
The three accused are Vinay Kumar Kantheti, Additional Commissioner (GST), CGST Raigad; Rakesh Sinha, Superintendent (GST), CGST Raigad; and Narinder Rajput, a private person and Customs House Agent.
The CBI’s anti-corruption branch in Mumbai registered the case on August 26 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The case was based on a complaint alleging that Sinha had demanded illegal gratification in connection with proceedings involving a stone-quarrying company.
According to the CBI, an amount of ₹1.50 crore was initially allegedly demanded, which was later reduced to ₹40 lakh.
Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap on August 27. During the operation, Rajput was allegedly caught accepting ₹40 lakh on behalf of Sinha and Kantheti.
The agency subsequently arrested the three accused and produced them before a special court in Thane on August 28. The CBI sought five days of custody for custodial interrogation.
However, the special court rejected the agency’s request and granted bail to the accused. It also held that the arrests were illegal, citing concerns over the procedure followed by the investigating agency. The court had questioned the manner in which the arrests were documented and carried out, particularly the requirement to communicate the grounds and reasons for arrest in writing.
The CBI challenged that order before the Bombay High Court.
After examining the case records, the high court found that the grounds of arrest had been communicated and that relevant family members and advocates had been informed. The court consequently set aside the special court’s bail order and remanded the three accused to two days of CBI custody.
Following the high court’s order, Sinha and Rajput were taken into CBI custody for questioning.
However, investigators could not immediately trace Kantheti after the court passed its order. CBI officials said efforts were being made to locate and apprehend him in accordance with the law.
Kantheti is a 2009-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer.
The CBI is continuing its investigation into the alleged bribery transaction, including the circumstances surrounding the demand and acceptance of the ₹40 lakh. Investigators are also examining the alleged roles of the three accused and the financial and official aspects connected with the case.
The allegations remain part of an ongoing investigation, and the accused are entitled to due process under law as the proceedings continue.
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