The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested Ajit Kumar Patra, an Odisha native, for allegedly masterminding an elaborate impersonation and bribery racket in which he posed as a senior GST officer and other top government officials to extort money from businessmen.
The agency informed that Patra was caught red-handed in Rajasthan while accepting a bribe of Rs 18 lakh, following which searches across Delhi, Rajasthan, and Odisha uncovered Rs 3.7 crore in cash, over 1 kg of gold jewellery, and multiple high-end vehicles.
CBI Trap And Arrest In Rajasthan
According to reports, the operation was initiated after credible intelligence indicated that Patra and his associate Minku Lal Jain were demanding a bribe from a Jaipur-based businessman to ‘settle’ a case with tax authorities.
The businessman, however, was under investigation by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), Jaipur, which had raided his premises on November 4. In a bid to avoid legal consequences, Parihar allegedly contacted Patra, who falsely claimed to have influence with DGGI and enforcement officials.
Patra and Jain then demanded Rs 18 lakh as a bribe, which was handed over through Parihar’s associate Jagjit Singh Gill. Acting on this input, CBI officers laid a trap and apprehended the duo on November 10 while they were receiving the marked money. The trap money was recovered on the spot, confirming the bribery exchange.
ALSO READ: Odisha Police SI recruitment scam: Centre issues notification for CBI probe
Massive Recoveries Across Three States
Following the arrests, the CBI conducted simultaneous raids at more than 20 locations linked to Patra and Jain across Delhi, Rajasthan, and Odisha.
During these searches, investigators seized Rs 3.7 crore in cash, gold ornaments weighing approximately 1 kg, 26 property documents in the names of Patra and his relatives, and a fleet of 16 vehicles, including 4 luxury cars. Several digital devices, documents, and fake identification materials were also recovered.
Officials said Patra had been operating under multiple false identities, often presenting himself as a senior official of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), the Ministry of Finance, or other enforcement wings. These fake credentials allowed him to enter restricted zones, stay in official government guest houses, and obtain VIP treatment at public and religious events.
According to the latest reports, the CBI has taken both Patra and Jain into custody and is interrogating them to determine the full extent of their operations and identify other beneficiaries involved.
