Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Dec 17 (Reporter) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested a CGST Inspector from the Tirupati GST Commissionerate along with a representative of a Chittoor-based private firm for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3.2 lakh. The CBI had registered a case on December 17, 2024, against four individuals, including an Assistant Commissioner, a Superintendent, and an Inspector from the Office of the Commissioner of Central Tax, Tirupati GST Commissionerate, along with a representative of the private firm and other unknown persons, a CBI statement said. The allegations pertain to the demand and acceptance of bribes by public servants in exchange for extending undue favours to companies and other parties. It was alleged that the public servants, acting in connivance, conducted inspections of various establishments and collected documents under the pretence of official inquiries. They subsequently summoned the business owners to the CGST office in Tirupati, demanding illegal gratification to settle purported irregularities. On November 5, 2024, the accused Inspector, along with other officials, visited the premises of the private firm, collected documents, and later demanded Rs 10 lakh from the firm's representative to resolve issues related to the firm's operations allegedly conducted from another company's premises. Acting on these allegations, the CBI set a trap and intercepted the accused Inspector and the private firm’s representative during the bribe transaction. The Rs 3.2 lakh bribe amount was recovered from the Inspector at the Office of the Commissioner of Central Tax, Tirupati GST Commissionerate. Both the CGST Inspector and the private firm representative were arrested and are scheduled to be presented before the Special Judge for CBI Cases in Kurnool on December 18. The CBI has conducted searches at multiple locations in Tirupati and Kadapa, including the residential and office premises of the accused. Several incriminating documents have been recovered during these searches. The investigation into the case is ongoing...////...