CBI books CGST official for ‘seeking Rs 1 cr bribe’

Lunawat filed the complaint on behalf of his friend Arpit Jagetiya, who has a gold sale and purchase business. The complaint alleged that Dhirendra Kumar demanded a bribe of Rs 1 crore and had already accepted a part of it.

A preliminary inquiry conducted by CBI has revealed that a CGST evasion case against Shree Bullions and others is pending, and is being dealt with by Dhirendra Kumar.

As per the FIR, Dhirendra Kumar, along with others, met Arpit Jagetiya at the CC Creation Building in Kalbadevi on April 20, 2023, at around 4:30 pm. He later compelled him to come to the CGST office’s 3rd floor at Churchgate, and kept him there for around 5 to 6 hours. “Here, Dhirendra demanded Rs 1 crore in exchange for not arresting Arpit Jagetiya. After negotiation, he agreed to accept Rs 50 lakh, of which Rs 25 lakh was to be paid that very night, and the remaining Rs 25 lakh on the next day, April 21, 2023,” the CBI FIR said.
“Dhirendra allegedly accepted the first installment of Rs 25 lakh through other accused persons, Amritlal Sankhala and Baban, on April 21, 2023, the FIR said.

After a preliminary inquiry, CBI recently booked Dhirendra Kumar and others under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act for offences relating to demand of bribes by public servants and abetment to offences.