CBI files chargesheet against IRS officer, middleman in bribery case

The CBI has filed a chargesheet against Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Amit Kumar Singhal and middleman Harsh Kotak, who were arrested in an alleged bribery case.

The chargesheet has been filed under various sections of the Prevention of the Corruption Act in CBI court here.

Harsh Kotak was arrested by the CBI on May 31 for allegedly accepting Rs 25 lakh from a businessman Sanam Kapoor on behalf of IRS officer Amit Kumar Singal.

The CBI had laid a trap following a complaint filed by Kapoor, director of company and franchise owner of La Pino’z Pizza. Kapoor alleged that Singal had demanded a bribe of Rs 45 lakh for not taking any further action on a notice issued by the Income Tax Department.

The complainant alleged that he met Singhal in Delhi in April 2025, where the officer demanded Rs 45 lakh for solving the matter. He said that it was there Kotak was introduced for payments. Later, the CBI arrested Singhal from his residence in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, in the early hour of June 1. The CBI claimed that Singhal acknowledged Rs 45 lakh bribe demand with Kapoor and later accepted Rs 25 lakh through Kotak.

Singal was posted as Additional Director General at the Directorate of Tax Payers Services, Delhi. The complainant alleged that he had business partnership with Singhal. However, due to contractual violations he terminated all business ties in December 2024. He suspected that nursing a grudge against him, the officer targeted him with an income tax notice on February 18 and allegedly harassed him.

After the arrest, CBI also raided Singhal’s house in Delhi and Mohali. The CBI claimed it had recovered gold, silver and papers of properties from the house of the accused.

The CBI named over 20 persons as witnesses. The transcript and pen drive of the conversation between the IRS officer and complainant has also been attached with the chargesheet.