The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Superintendent of CGST Audit-I, Mumbai, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh from a private company, agency said on Monday.

According to the CBI, the arrest was made on December 22, 2025, after the agency laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while accepting the cash, which was part payment of an alleged illegal gratification demand.

The case was registered on December 22 on the basis of a written complaint submitted by the Director of a private company. The complaint alleged that the CGST Superintendent had demanded illegal gratification following an audit conducted at the company on November 26, 2025.

Investigators stated that the accused had allegedly threatened to fabricate a tax demand of ₹98 lakh against the company and initially demanded a bribe of ₹20 lakh to “settle” the matter. Following negotiations, the amount was allegedly reduced to ₹17 lakh, with ₹5 lakh sought as the first instalment.

Acting on the complaint, the CBI organised a trap operation and apprehended the official while he was accepting the ₹5 lakh bribe. Subsequent searches conducted at the accused’s residence in Mumbai led to the recovery of unaccounted and unexplained cash amounting to ₹18.30 lakh. During the search, investigators also recovered documents related to the purchase of two properties — one valued at ₹40.31 lakh purchased in April 2025 and another worth ₹32.10 lakh purchased in June 2024.

Searches were also carried out at the office premises of the accused public servant, where digital evidence related to the audit report being prepared for the complainant’s company was seized.

The investigation in the case is continuing.