21 hrs ago
Bombay High Court Orders CBI Custody in Bribery Case
The CBI is investigating a suspected bribe involving CGST officers.
It says a demand for ₹1.5 crore was reduced to ₹40 lakh.
The CBI says Narinder Rajput was caught accepting the money for Rakesh Kumar Sinha.
Investigators also said they found ₹34 lakh at Rajput’s home.
They alleged that Vinay Kumar Kantheti and other senior officers might receive part of the money.
A lower court had refused to give the CBI custody and had granted bail.
The Bombay High Court said that decision did not properly consider the investigation material.
It ordered the accused to remain in CBI custody for two days.
The Bombay High Court ordered three accused CGST officers into two days of CBI custody.
The court overturned the Thane Sessions Court’s August 28 order granting bail and rejecting custodial interrogation.
The CBI alleges that Superintendent Rakesh Kumar Sinha demanded ₹1.5 crore, later reduced to ₹40 lakh.
The agency says Narinder Rajput was arrested accepting ₹40 lakh on Sinha’s behalf on August 27.
The accused challenged the arrests and custody request, but the High Court rejected their arguments.
- Who
- The accused include CGST officers Rakesh Kumar Sinha, Narinder Rajput and Vinay Kumar Kantheti; the CBI is investigating the case.
- What
- The Bombay High Court ordered two days of CBI custody in an alleged ₹40 lakh bribery case.
- Where
- The case is being investigated in Mumbai and concerns proceedings before the CGST authorities; the lower-court order came from Thane.
- When
- The trap was conducted on August 27, and the High Court ruling was issued on September 17, 2026.
- Why
- The High Court said the Thane Sessions Court had not properly examined the case diary and other material before rejecting custodial interrogation.
CBI and Prosecution Position
Accused Officers’ Position
Need for Custodial Interrogation
CBI and Prosecution Position
The CBI argued that custody was necessary to investigate the alleged bribery network and the suspected sharing of the money with senior officers.
Accused Officers’ Position
The accused argued that custodial interrogation was unnecessary because the alleged bribe money and mobile phones had already been recovered.
Legality of Arrests
CBI and Prosecution Position
The High Court found that arrest memoranda had been signed and that family members and advocates had been informed.
Accused Officers’ Position
The accused argued that the grounds of arrest had not been properly communicated and that their arrests were illegal.
Lower-Court Decision
CBI and Prosecution Position
The High Court described the Sessions Court’s rejection of custody as perverse and said it had not properly examined the record.
Accused Officers’ Position
The accused had relied on the Sessions Court’s decision, which rejected custodial interrogation and granted them bail.
Key facts
- Custody ordered
- Two days of CBI custody
- Alleged bribe
- ₹40 lakh
- Original demand
- ₹1.5 crore, allegedly reduced to ₹40 lakh
- Trap date
- August 27
- Additional recovery
- The CBI claimed ₹34 lakh was recovered from Narinder Rajput’s residence
- High Court action
- The court quashed the Thane Sessions Court’s August 28 order
Sources
Related news
CBI Arrests Three in Alleged ₹40 Lakh Raigad Bribery Case
Special CBI Court Sends Three CISF Officials Into Custody
CBI Arrests CGST Superintendent, Consultant in New Panvel Bribery Case
Gujarat High Court Acquits Policemen in 27-Year-Old Bribe Case
ACB Seeks Sanction to Prosecute Suspended Mumbai Judge
Bengaluru CBI Court Convicts Tax Officer, Accountant in Bribery Case
Delhi CGST Arrests Iron-Steel Trader in Fake GST Credit Scam
Modi’s Leadership Lessons From Ambition to Reality
Indian Markets Mixed Amid NSE IPO and Tata Governance Dispute
UPI MDR GST Impact Expected to Remain Minimal
