The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a stenographer posted in the Income Tax Department, Chennai, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹1.5 lakh to provide undue official favour to a taxpayer. The arrest followed a trap operation conducted by the agency after receiving a formal complaint.

According to the CBI, the case was registered on February 2, 2026, based on allegations that the accused had demanded illegal gratification amounting to 10 per cent of the outstanding income tax dues of the complainant. The dues pertained to Assessment Year 2020–21 and were reportedly around ₹19 lakh. The bribe was allegedly sought in exchange for nullifying or favourably settling the pending tax liability.

Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe. An amount of ₹1.5 lakh, allegedly received as illegal gratification, was seized from the possession of the stenographer during the trap proceedings.

Following the arrest, the CBI conducted searches at the residential premises of the accused. These searches reportedly led to the recovery of incriminating documents, which are now being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.

The accused was produced before the competent court in Chennai on February 3, 2026. The court remanded him to judicial custody, the agency said.

The CBI has stated that further investigation in the matter is underway to ascertain the full extent of the alleged misconduct and to determine whether other officials were involved in the case.

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