Jaipur, November 26, 2025 – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has dismantled a significant bribery network operating within the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in Jaipur. The agency's operation led to the arrest of three individuals: a judicial member of the ITAT, an advocate, and an appellant.
The CBI initiated the investigation based on credible information suggesting a well-organized system of corruption within the tribunal. The scheme allegedly involved settling appeals pending before the Jaipur bench of the ITAT in favor of appellants in exchange for illicit payments.
The arrested individuals include S. Seethalakshmi, a judicial member of the ITAT Jaipur Bench, Advocate Rajendra Sisodia, and an appellant identified as Mujmmel. Advocate Rajendra Sisodia was apprehended while allegedly receiving a bribe of ₹5.5 lakh on behalf of Mujmmel, whose case was awaiting resolution before the appellate tribunal. The CBI reported that the bribe was routed through a hawala channel.
Following Sisodia's arrest, authorities apprehended Judicial Member S. Seethalakshmi. A search of her official vehicle allegedly led to the recovery of ₹30 lakh in cash. Mujmmel was also taken into custody on the same day.
CBI teams conducted extensive searches across multiple locations in Jaipur, Kota, and other areas. These searches resulted in the seizure of over ₹1 crore in cash, along with transaction records, property documents, and other incriminating evidence. The CBI spokesperson stated that the seized materials indicate a highly organized syndicate involved in systematic bribery to influence appeal outcomes.
The agency registered a formal case on November 25, 2025, against Advocate Rajendra Sisodia, Judicial Member S. Seethalakshmi, an Assistant Registrar of ITAT Jaipur, and other unidentified individuals, including public servants and private individuals. The investigation aims to identify all individuals involved in the racket and trace the flow of illegal funds.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the syndicate allegedly demanded money to expedite appeals and misled appellants into believing they could guarantee favorable outcomes. Evidence suggests collusion between judicial members and other officials within the tribunal. The CBI team also confiscated numerous documents related to appeals and digital transaction records, providing a clearer understanding of the network's operational structure.
The CBI emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, with teams continuing to examine financial trails and possible links to other officials and beneficiaries. The agency is also scrutinizing seized documents and cash transactions to determine the full extent of the corruption network.
