CBI arrests Mumbai I-T commissioner, 5 others in graft case

THE CBI LAID A TRAP AND NABBED THE COMMISSIONER WHO HAD RECEIVED ₹19.34L AS PART OF THE ₹2CR BRIBE HE HAD SOUGHT

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested BB Rajendra Prasad, Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals-30), Mumbai, and five others — managing director of a group of companies, accounts officer, chartered accountant, a real estate agent and his relative — in an alleged bribery case.

The 1992 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer was arrested after it was alleged that he passed an order in an appeal matter favouring a private trust whose trustee is a private company based at Mumbai.

To ensure a favourable order, the commissioner allegedly demanded a bribe amount of Rs2 crore and wanted the money to be delivered to the relative of a real estate agent in Mumbai.

The relative of the real estate agent collected the money and transferred it to the agent in Visakhapatnam.

The commissioner visited Visakhapatnam on leave and allegedly demanded the agent to deliver part of the money at his residence in Visakhapatnam.

Based on a tip-off, the CBI laid a trap and nabbed the commissioner who had received Rs19.34 lakh, which was part of the bribe amount he had asked for, from the agent. Both the commissioner and agent were arrested, and during investigation into the case the remaining amount of Rs1.50 crore received by the agent was also recovered.

Searches were conducted in Mumbai and Visakhapatnam including offices and residence of accused which led to recovery of several property documents, details of bank accounts, three lockers and several incriminating documents. The CBI said it is continuing to investigate the case against the commissioner.