income tax
Published on 22 July 2025
CBI Arrests Senior Revenue Officer for Rs. 25 Lakh Bribery Scheme
CBI Nabs Senior IRS Officer in ₹45 Lakh Bribery Scandal; ₹1 Crore Cash, 3.5 Kg Gold Recovered
New Delhi | July 2025 In a startling development that has sent ripples through the Revenue Department, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, Amit Kumar Singal, for allegedly soliciting a bribe of ₹45 lakh. Singal, a 2007-batch officer currently posted as Additional Director General at the Directorate of Taxpayer Services, was apprehended along with a private individual identified as Harsh Kotak.
According to the CBI’s preliminary findings, Kotak was caught red-handed accepting ₹25 lakh in cash at Singal’s Mohali residence—a portion of the alleged total demand. The arrest was made after a complainant approached the agency, alleging coercion and threats of punitive action unless the hefty bribe was paid.
Timeline and Arrest
The complaint reached the CBI on May 31, 2025. It detailed how the IRS officer had purportedly leveraged his official position to intimidate the taxpayer with potential legal consequences unless ₹45 lakh was handed over in exchange for “favourable intervention” in an ongoing income tax matter.
Swiftly acting on the complaint, CBI officers laid a trap at Singal’s Mohali residence, where Kotak was intercepted while accepting ₹25 lakh in cash. Hours later, Singal was picked up from his New Delhi residence. Both men are now in custody and expected to be produced before the court for further proceedings.
What the CBI Found
Searches across Delhi, Punjab, and Mumbai turned up staggering unaccounted assets. The CBI claims to have recovered:
- ₹1 crore in cash
- 3.5 kg of gold
- 2 kg of silver (estimated to be worth around ₹3.5 crore)
- Documents linked to over 25 bank accounts, numerous bank lockers, and properties spread across Delhi, Mumbai, and Punjab
- Incriminating digital files and other evidence relating to undisclosed assets
The scale of the assets unearthed suggests the possibility of a broader web of corruption, and the CBI has already widened the scope of its investigation.
Part of a Larger Pattern
This case doesn’t appear to be an isolated incident. Over the past few months, the CBI has taken several Income Tax officers into custody on bribery charges:
| Location | Officials Involved | Bribe Amount | Purpose | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patna | Assistant Director & 2 others | ₹2 lakh | Release of seized funds | Arrested, in custody |
| Hyderabad | Commissioner of Income Tax & 4 associates | ₹70 lakh | Favourable tax treatment | Arrested |
| Rohtak | Hemant Kumar Nain, I-T Officer | ₹50,000 | Closure of tax notice | Caught red-handed |
These arrests paint a worrying picture of how some officials within the Income Tax Department may be misusing their authority for personal enrichment.
Legal Action and Next Steps
All arrested individuals are facing prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The CBI has hinted at further arrests as it continues to examine digital evidence, financial trails, and property documents. Sources within the agency suggest that disciplinary proceedings may also follow under the service conduct rules.
In a brief statement, the agency emphasized that its efforts are part of a sustained drive to bring transparency and accountability into key government departments, particularly those dealing with finance and enforcement.
A Warning to the System
The arrest of a high-ranking IRS officer—coupled with the scale of assets recovered—underscores the need for stricter internal oversight mechanisms. While the CBI’s action sends a strong deterrent signal, it also raises uncomfortable questions about how such transactions were allowed to go unchecked.