CBI Traps IRS Officer Prabha Bhandari in Rs 9 Cr Bribery Case After Taped Call

• IRS officer Prabha Bhandari, Deputy Commissioner of CGST Jhansi, arrested by CBI on Jan 1, 2026, in a Rs 1.5 crore bribery case.
• A recorded phone call exposed Bhandari instructing superintendents to convert Rs 70 lakh bribe into gold, leading to her arrest.
• CBI raids in Jhansi, Delhi, and Gwalior uncovered cash, gold, silver, and property documents worth approximately Rs 9 crore.
• Two superintendents, a firm owner, and a lawyer were also arrested in connection with the bribery syndicate.
• The New Year's Day crackdown signals a major anti-corruption drive by CBI in 2026, creating stir in administrative circles.

Why It Matters: CBI's New Year's Day bust of IRS officer Prabha Bhandari signals a major anti-corruption push.