LUCKNOW, Jan. 24 -- A bid by suspended CGST deputy commissioner Prabha Bhandari to deflect blame in the Rs.70-lakh bribery case has backfired with her own subordinates making fresh and damaging disclosures before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), prompting the agency to record statements of more businessmen and traders to corroborate the allegations in the bribery scandal in the Central GST (CGST) department in Jhansi, senior officials said.

During custodial interrogation on Wednesday, Bhandari allegedly sought to shield herself by placing the entire responsibility for the bribe demand on other officials. However, sources said the move proved counter-productive as other accused GST superintendents Anil Tiwari and Ajay Sharma tol...