CBI Lodges Assets Case Against CGST Assistant Commissioner

CBI Lodges Assets Case Against CGST Assistant Commissioner

Issue: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a criminal case against a high-ranking Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) official on charges of possessing disproportionate assets (DA) that could not be justified by their known sources of income.

Facts:

• The accused is an Assistant Commissioner of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST), previously posted in offices like Jaipur and Ahmedabad.
• The preliminary investigation found the official amassed assets worth around ₹2.54 crore (including properties and investments in their name and family members’ names).
• The estimated value of the assets was 100% disproportionate to the official’s known income sources.
• Investigators suspect that multiple shell firms, LLPs, and companies owned by the family were used to route illegal funds.
• CBI teams conducted searches at several locations linked to the accused across Jaipur, Ankleshwar, and Ahmedabad, recovering gold and silver jewelry valued at approximately ₹35 lakh.

Decision:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) formally registered a case against the Assistant Commissioner under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act (dealing with disproportionate assets). The matter is now under full criminal investigation.

Key TakeDowns:

• Evidence of Corruption: The case highlights the use of shell entities and family-owned businesses to launder and conceal illegally amassed wealth by public officials. * Strict Enforcement: The investigation underscores the stringent anti-corruption drive within the tax administration, ensuring that high-ranking CGST officials are held accountable for integrity violations.
• Asset Recovery: The seizure of properties, high-end vehicles (Porsche and Jeep Compass), and gold jewelry indicates the steps taken by the CBI to secure assets linked to the alleged illegal income.