Phone Call Exposes Rs. 1.5-Cr CGST Bribery Racket in Jhansi, CBI Arrest Sparks Controversy

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A single phone call has become the cornerstone of a major corruption investigation that has rocked the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) department in Jhansi. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Prabha Bhandari, Deputy Commissioner of CGST, for allegedly masterminding a ₹1.5 crore bribery deal aimed at burying a significant tax evasion case.

According to officials, the CBI laid a trap after receiving credible information that senior CGST officials were colluding with intermediaries to demand illegal gratification from private firms under scrutiny. The investigation revealed that two CGST superintendents, acting under Bhandari’s instructions, accepted ₹70 lakh in cash from a Jhansi-based businessman. The bribe was allegedly part of a larger ₹1.5 crore deal negotiated to provide undue relief in assessment and investigation proceedings.

The turning point came when a phone call, monitored by CBI officers, captured instructions to convert the bribe money into gold. This evidence, investigators say, directly implicated Bhandari as the orchestrator of the scheme. The CBI has registered the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and continues to probe possible wider links, including the involvement of other officials and intermediaries.

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Alongside Bhandari, the CBI arrested two CGST superintendents, a tax advocate identified as Naresh Kumar Gupta, and businessman Raju Mangtani, owner of Jai Durga Hardwares. All were produced before the Special CBI Court in Lucknow for further legal proceedings. Officials emphasized that the arrests highlight the agency’s commitment to tackling corruption within revenue departments, which play a crucial role in India’s tax administration.

The case has sparked widespread debate about integrity in public service, particularly within departments tasked with enforcing compliance and collecting revenue. Analysts note that corruption in tax enforcement not only undermines trust in institutions but also hampers the government’s efforts to strengthen fiscal discipline.

The CBI’s swift action, aided by technological surveillance and coordinated field operations, underscores the growing reliance on intelligence-led investigations to dismantle entrenched corruption networks. As the probe expands, questions remain about whether more officials will be implicated and how systemic safeguards can be reinforced to prevent similar scandals in the future.

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For now, the phone call that exposed the bribery deal stands as a stark reminder of how even carefully orchestrated corruption can unravel under scrutiny.