In a major crackdown on high-level corruption, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Amit Kumar Singal, a 2007 batch senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer currently serving as Additional Director General at the Directorate of Taxpayer Services, New Delhi. Along with him, his alleged aide Harsh Kotak was also taken into custody. The duo was accused of demanding a bribe of ₹45 lakh from a complainant, out of which ₹25 lakh had already been received when the CBI laid its trap.

According to the CBI, the bribe was solicited in exchange for favorable treatment in matters relating to the Income Tax Department. The complainant alleged that the officer used threats of legal action, heavy penalties, and harassment to coerce him into compliance. Following this, the CBI launched an undercover operation and caught Harsh Kotak red-handed while accepting ₹25 lakh on behalf of Singal at the officer’s residence in Mohali, Punjab. Simultaneously, Singal was apprehended from his home in Vasant Kunj, Delhi.

After the arrest, CBI teams conducted extensive search operations at properties linked to both accused in Delhi, Punjab, and Mumbai. The case has now sparked concerns about systemic corruption in top financial enforcement agencies. Both individuals are set to be presented before a competent court, and further investigations are ongoing to trace the full scope of the bribery network. The CBI’s swift and coordinated action highlights its renewed focus on rooting out corruption within key government departments.