IN A major anti-corruption action, CBI Jabalpur unit arrested CGST Superintendent Mukesh Barman and CGST Inspector Sachin Khare red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 4 lakh, on Wednesday. The bribe was demanded from hotel businessman Vivek Tripathi. Both accused will be produced before the court on Friday. After the arrests, the CBI team conducted searches at the offices and residences of both officials and is also col lecting details of all cases being handled by them. According to the complaint Vivek Tripathi is a hotel own er in the city. During an inspec tion of hotel transactions and records, both CGST officials found all documents and finan cial records.

 

Despite this, they allegedly raised a tax demand of Rs 1 crore. When Tripathi objected, the officials demand ed Rs 10 lakh to settle the mat ter. The deal was later negoti ated down and finally fixed at Rs 4 lakh. Tripathi approached CBI SP S K Rathi and lodged a com plaint. To avoid direct contact, the accused officials asked Tripathi’s chartered account ant, Harshit Kumar, to deliver the bribe. The money was to be handed over near a mall on Gwarighat Road, where the CBI team had already laid a trap.

 

Inspector Sachin Khare arrived to collect the bribe and was caught red-handed as soon as the money was handed over. After his arrest, CBI made him call Superintendent Mukesh Barman and inform him that the money had been received. Barman asked him to bring the amount to the office. Acting promptly, the CBI team accom panied Khare to the CGST divi sional office near Aastha Nagar on Gwarighat Road and arrest ed Superintendent Mukesh Barman as well while further investigation is underway.