Dr Amit Singhal, a 2007 batch Indian Revenue Services (IRS-Indirect taxes & customs) officer has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 45 lakh through an associate to settle an Income Tax notice.
Singhal is presently posted as Additional Director General, Directorate of Taxpayer Services, New Delhi. The CBI arrested him from his residence in New Delhi.
The arrest followed a complaint by Sanam Kapoor, owner of La Pinoz, a food franchise chain, who claimed he was being harassed with official notices after a business fallout.
In 2017, Kapoor had entered into a franchisee agreement with Mumbai-based businessman Harsh Kotak, who was allegedly partnering with Singhal's mother in the venture.
According to Kapoor's counsel, Gagandeep Singh Jammu, the harassment began after Kapoor discovered last year that Kotak had started procuring raw materials from other sources at cheaper rates, violating their agreement. Though Kapoor had the option to terminate the franchisee contract, he was allegedly coerced into buying it back for Rs 1.6 crore—over six times the original value of Rs 25 lakh.
Kapoor soon began receiving multiple notices from the Income Tax and food safety departments. Jammu alleged that Singhal demanded Rs 45 lakh to “close” the I-T notice. They then approached the CBI.
On May 30, Kotak met Kapoor in Chandigarh and called him to Singhal's Mohali residence the following day. The CBI laid a trap and arrested Kotak on May 31 as he accepted Rs 25 lakh from Kapoor. Later that evening, a CBI team arrested Singal from his Delhi home and seized 2.5 kg of gold jewellery and Rs 30 lakh in cash during a search.
A case has been registered against both Kotak and Singhal in Chandigarh.
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