Mumbai, September 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an absconding Additional Commissioner of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) from Uttarakhand’s Rishikesh in connection with a Rs 40 lakh bribery case involving proceedings against a Maharashtra-based company, officials said on Monday.
The accused, Vinay Kumar Kantheti, an IRS officer of the 2009 batch, had been absconding since September 16, when the Bombay High Court cancelled his bail along with that of two co-accused and directed them to surrender before the CBI.
According to the CBI, Kantheti did not comply with the High Court’s order and instead absconded. He was subsequently traced to Rishikesh and taken into custody by the agency.
His colleague, Rakesh Kumar Sinha, Superintendent, CGST, Raigad, and private person Narinder Rajput, who allegedly acted as a conduit on behalf of the officials, are already in judicial custody.
The CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch in Mumbai registered the case on August 26 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, based on a complaint alleging that a Superintendent, CGST, Khandeshwar, Raigad, had demanded illegal gratification.
The agency alleged that Rs 1.50 crore was initially demanded in connection with proceedings involving the complainant’s firm. The amount was subsequently reduced to Rs 40 lakh.
The CBI laid a trap on August 27, during which a private person/Customs House Agent was allegedly caught accepting Rs 40 lakh on behalf of the Superintendent and Additional Commissioner, CGST, Raigad.
All three accused were arrested and produced before the Special CBI Court in Thane. The CBI sought five days of police custody for custodial interrogation.
However, in an order dated August 28, the Special Court rejected the custody plea, held the arrests illegal and released the accused on bail, the agency said.
The CBI challenged the order before the Bombay High Court. The High Court accepted the agency’s plea, quashed and set aside the Special Court’s order and remanded the three accused to two days of CBI custody.
After examining the records, the High Court found that the grounds of arrest had been communicated to the accused in writing and that their family members and advocates had been duly informed, according to the CBI.
Following the High Court’s order, Sinha and Rajput were taken into CBI custody for two days and subsequently sent to 14 days of judicial custody.
Kantheti, however, allegedly absconded instead of complying with the High Court’s direction. The CBI has now arrested him from Rishikesh.
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