# Fugitive 2009-Batch IRS Officer Arrested in Rishikesh Over Bribery Case

> The CBI has apprehended fugitive CGST Additional Commissioner Vinay Kumar Kantheti from Rishikesh after he went underground following a Bombay High Court custody order. The case involves an alleged demand of 1.5 crore rupees in bribes, negotiated down to 40 lakh rupees, to settle an issue concerning a business firm.

**Type:** article · **Category:** India · **Published:** 2026-09-21 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/national/uttarakhand-ke-rishikesh-men-chhipa-2009-baicha-ka-irs-aphasara-giraphtara-rishvata-mamale-men-cbi-ne-pakara-35853 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** CBI, CGST, Vinay Kumar Kantheti, Corruption, IRS Officer, Rishikesh Arrest, Bombay High Court

The Anti-Corruption Branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation in Mumbai has cracked down on a major bribery syndicate operating within tax administration channels. Agency officials apprehended absconding CGST Additional Commissioner Vinay Kumar Kantheti from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand. The 2009-batch Indian Revenue Service officer had been on the run ever since the Bombay High Court approved his custody in a high-profile corruption probe. The entire investigation centers on an initial illicit demand of 1.5 crore rupees from an enterprise, which was eventually settled at 40 lakh rupees to clear regulatory issues. The arrest of the senior officer has sent shockwaves through the tax department.

## Origin of the Anti-Corruption Probe
The legal action commenced following a direct complaint regarding corrupt demands made by the Superintendent and Additional Commissioner stationed at CGST Khandeshwar in Raigad. Upon evaluating the complaint, the investigating agency registered a formal case under corruption charges on August 26, 2026. The officials had allegedly demanded a massive payoff to settle pending issues relating to a commercial firm. With evidence pointing to systemic misconduct, agency investigators formulated an undercover trap operation to catch the facilitators in the act.

## Intercepting the 40 Lakh Rupee Cash Payoff
Acting on actionable intelligence, the agency deployed an operational team on August 27, 2026, to execute the trap. Customs House Agent Narinder Rajput was caught red-handed while accepting 40 lakh rupees in cash. The ensuing inquiry revealed that this financial settlement was collected on behalf of CGST Superintendent Rakesh Kumar Sinha and Additional Commissioner Vinay Kumar Kantheti. Moving decisively, the investigating agency took all three individuals, including the private broker and the department superintendent, into custody.

## Legal Journey from Thane Special Court to Bombay High Court
Following their apprehension, the suspects were produced before the Special Court in Thane. Investigating officers sought five days of custody to interrogate the accused and uncover the full extent of the extortion ring. However, the special court on August 28, 2026, dismissed the police remand application, deemed the arrests unlawful, and granted bail to all accused persons.

Disputing the lower court's ruling, the agency promptly approached the Bombay High Court through a revision petition. On September 16, 2026, the high court reversed the special court's decision, issuing an order remanding the accused to two days of agency custody for thorough examination.

## Defiance of Court Orders and Capture in Rishikesh
Pursuant to the high court directive, investigators took Superintendent Rakesh Kumar Sinha and the intermediary into custody for questioning. Upon completion of that period, the court committed both individuals to 14 days of judicial custody in jail. In contrast, Additional Commissioner Vinay Kumar Kantheti defied the judicial mandate and evaded arrest by absconding.

A dedicated team from Mumbai mobilized technical surveillance assets and ground intelligence to trace the movements of the missing officer. Investigators pinpointed his hideout in the town of Rishikesh, where a targeted raid was executed to bring him into custody.

## What this means for you
This enforcement action underscores that bribery and extortion by tax authorities can be directly challenged through judicial and anti-corruption avenues.

- **For Businesses and Taxpayers:** Commercial entities facing coercive demands or settlement proposals from tax inspectors have clear legal remedies through investigative agencies. Reporting illicit demands helps curtail predatory practices and reinforces procedural fairness in regulatory disputes.
- **In Maharashtra:** Scrutiny over assessment procedures within CGST offices across Raigad and Thane is expected to intensify. Local businesses operating in these industrial hubs can expect greater vigilance over routine tax clearances and mediator interactions.
- **In Uttarakhand:** Heightened coordination between central enforcement teams and local law enforcement will impact surveillance across transit and tourist centers like Rishikesh. Hospitality and rental accommodations may face stricter compliance checks regarding identity verification for out-of-state visitors.
- **For Public Officials:** Evading judicial custody orders leads to compounding legal and departmental repercussions under civil service rules. Senior administrators face heightened accountability and the imminent risk of immediate arrest when facing established corruption charges.

## Why this happened
The escalation occurred because tax officials attempted to monetize their regulatory authority to suppress a firm's legal troubles and subsequently evaded court-mandated custody.

- **Direct Trigger:** Senior officials demanded a 1.5 crore rupee payoff to settle issues concerning a commercial firm, which was negotiated down to 40 lakh rupees via a broker. A formal complaint prompted the investigative agency to lay a trap, catching the middleman red-handed with the cash.
- **Judicial Custody Mandate:** Although a special court initially released the accused on bail, the Bombay High Court overturned that decision on September 16, 2026, ordering two days of agency custody. While other co-accused complied, the senior officer chose to abscond.
- **Evasion and Electronic Surveillance:** The senior officer fled to Rishikesh in Uttarakhand in an attempt to evade detention. Investigators utilized technical intelligence and phone tracking to locate his hideout and execute the arrest.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Who was arrested by the CBI in Rishikesh?
The CBI arrested Vinay Kumar Kantheti, a 2009-batch IRS officer and Additional Commissioner of CGST, from Rishikesh.

### 2. What was the total bribe amount involved in this case?
The case involved an initial bribe demand of 1.5 crore rupees to settle a firm's matter, which was negotiated down to 40 lakh rupees.

### 3. When and how was the middleman caught?
The investigative agency laid a trap on August 27, 2026, intercepting Customs House Agent Narinder Rajput red-handed while accepting 40 lakh rupees in cash.

### 4. What did the Bombay High Court rule regarding the accused?
On September 16, 2026, the Bombay High Court reversed the special court's bail order and directed that the accused be remanded to two days of CBI custody.

### 5. What is the status of the other co-accused in the investigation?
CGST Superintendent Rakesh Kumar Sinha and middleman Narinder Rajput were remanded to 14 days of judicial custody following their custodial interrogation.

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