In a major corruption crackdown, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Amit Kumar Singal and his associate Harsh Kotak in connection with a ₹45 lakh bribery case. The agency seized ₹1 crore in cash, 3.5 kg of gold, and 2 kg of silver during coordinated raids on Singal’s properties in Delhi and Punjab.
Singal, a 2007-batch officer serving as Additional Director General at the Directorate of Taxpayer Services, allegedly demanded the bribe from Sanam Kapoor, owner of La Pino’z Pizza, to suppress an income tax notice. According to the First Information Report (FIR), Singal initially demanded ₹45 lakh to “settle” the notice and accepted a ₹25 lakh advance via his associate Kotak.
The CBI caught Kotak red-handed while receiving the money at Singal’s residence in Mohali on June 1. Singal was arrested the same day from his home in Delhi’s upscale Vasant Kunj locality. Both were presented before a special magistrate in Chandigarh and sent to judicial custody until June 13.
A franchise turned front?
The corruption case traces back to a now-defunct business arrangement. The FIR reveals that during his tenure as Joint Commissioner in the Customs Department, Mumbai, Singal approached Kapoor and inked a master franchise agreement with La Pino’z Pizza through Parker Impex—a firm registered in his mother’s name. Subsequent franchise deals involved companies linked to Kotak and his family.
Kapoor alleges that after the fallout of these ventures—triggered by “unprofessional conduct and contractual violations”—he was forced to repurchase three outlets at six times their value. When Kapoor refused, Singal allegedly used his official clout to target him.
In February 2025, Kapoor received an income tax notice, which he claims was orchestrated by Singal in retaliation. The notice prompted a visit by Kapoor’s chartered accountant to the Chandigarh IT office, who warned of severe penalties, seemingly influenced by Singal.
The bribe and the sting
In April, Kapoor met Singal at his Delhi office, where the officer allegedly demanded ₹45 lakh to bury the tax notice. Threats of further legal harassment accompanied the demand.
The CBI swung into action after Kapoor filed a formal complaint. A covert recording of a four-hour conversation on May 30, involving Singal, Kotak, Kapoor, and a lawyer, captured the bribery arrangement in motion.
On May 31, the CBI laid a trap. Kotak was nabbed while allegedly accepting the ₹25 lakh bribe on Singal’s behalf. Subsequent raids uncovered stashes of cash and gold, further tightening the case against the disgraced officer.
A widening net
The case has put a spotlight on the nexus between public servants and business interests. The CBI is now investigating the broader network of shell entities, possible benami assets, and misuse of office. The agency has not ruled out more arrests.
A CBI spokesperson stated, “The demand for the bribe was accompanied by threats of legal action, imposition of heavy penalties, and harassment in case of non-compliance. The evidence gathered so far reveals a deliberate abuse of authority and a well-orchestrated extortion scheme.”
As the probe intensifies, the case stands as a stark reminder of the rot within corridors of power — and the price of silence broken.
