CBI Probes ₹40 Lakh Bribe Demand to ‘Settle’ CGST Vigilance Complaint in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a probe into an alleged ₹40 lakh demand made to a senior CGST official in exchange for getting a departmental complaint against him withdrawn.

The case was registered by the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Gandhinagar, after a CGST superintendent approached the agency on August 25. The officer alleged that a man claiming to represent a senior GST official had sought money to ensure that a complaint against him was closed.

The CBI FIR names Govind Raval as the alleged middleman, along with unidentified public servants and private individuals.

The complainant, posted as an advocate on record at the CESTAT Ahmedabad Bench, had received a vigilance communication from the CGST Ahmedabad (South) Commissionerate on July 27, asking him to respond to allegations linked to a corruption case. He submitted his response on August 7, stating that he was innocent.

According to the FIR, Raval allegedly contacted the officer on August 14 and claimed that he had filed the complaint against him. He allegedly said he was acting on behalf of a senior CGST officer and demanded ₹40 lakh to “settle” the matter.

Raval allegedly later agreed to accept ₹10 lakh as a token amount and the first instalment, promising that the complaint would be closed once the remaining amount was paid.

On August 15, he allegedly told the superintendent that he would submit material in his favour after receiving the money, the FIR states.

The officer subsequently approached the CBI, which registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Corruption Act. Raval has not been arrested so far.

DeshGujarat