A senior Central GST officer posted in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 70 lakh as part of a Rs 1.5-crore
deal to settle a tax evasion case.
The accused officer, Prabha Bhandari, is a 2016-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer serving as Deputy Commissioner, Central GST, Jhansi. She was arrested along with two CGST Superintendents, Anil Kumar Tiwari and Ajay Kumar Sharma, and two private persons, hardware firm owner Raju Mangani and lawyer Naresh Kumar Gupta.
According to investigators, Rs 70 lakh was received as the first installment of the bribe when the CBI laid the trap.
A 2016-Batch IRS Officer
Officials said Bhandari had been posted in Jhansi for about six months. Most field-level dealings were handled through the two superintendents working under her. She had reportedly purchased a flat worth Rs 68 lakh a few months ago. Investigators believe she played the key role in orchestrating the alleged bribery arrangement.
IRS officers are recruited through the Union Public Service Commission’s Civil Services Examination. Bhandari joined the IRS after completing her training in 2016 and has been serving in the Revenue Department since then.
How the Case Came to Light
On December 18, a CGST team led by Bhandari conducted a raid at Jai Durga Hardware in Jhansi’s Jhokan Bagh locality on allegations of tax evasion involving nearly Rs 13 crore. Documents were seized in three sacks during the raid.
The officials allegedly demanded Rs 1.5 crore from the firm’s owner to “settle” the case. Lawyer Naresh Kumar Gupta was said to be the mediator in the negotiations. The matter was subsequently brought to the notice of the CBI, which laid a trap when Rs 70 lakh was being delivered as the first installment.
Superintendents Anil Tiwari and Ajay Sharma were allegedly caught red-handed accepting the money. During questioning, they reportedly named Bhandari. The CBI also recorded a call in which Bhandari is said to have instructed that the cash be converted into gold and handed over. She was arrested from Delhi soon after. Her Jhansi residence was searched for nearly four hours.
Cash, Jewellery and Property Papers Seized
On December 30, the CBI registered a case against seven accused, including Bhandari. She and the two superintendents were remanded to judicial custody.
Searches at multiple locations reportedly led to the recovery of Rs 90 lakh in cash, jewellery, high-end watches and property documents. Investigators say illegal earnings were allegedly parked through property dealers and close associates. A total of Rs 1.6 crore in cash has now been recovered.
The CBI is also probing disproportionate assets and alleged benami property purchases in Delhi and Bengaluru. Raids have been conducted in Kanpur, Mumbai and Jhansi, including locations linked to Bhandari’s husband. The role of several other CGST officials is also under scrutiny, and the CBI is tracing firm owners Lokesh Tolani and Tejpal Mahato.
The incident has triggered conversations within civil service circles about ethics and accountability.
