CBI arrests Income Tax Commissioner, five others over bribery charges

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], May 3 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested the Commissioner of Income Tax department and five other senior officers in an alleged bribery case. BB Rajendra Prasad, a 1992 IAS batch officer, was arrested from Visakhapatnam while four others including MD of a Group of Companies based at Mumbai, Accounts Officer of said private company; a Chartered Accountant, a Real Estate Trade Agent and his relative (private person) were taken into custody from Mumbai. It was alleged that Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals -30), Mumbai passed an order in an appeal matter favouring a private trust whose trustee was a private company based at Mumbai, following which a case was registered. For giving this favourable order, he allegedly demanded a bribe amount of Rs. 2 crore (approx) and wanted the money to be delivered to the relative of the real estate trade agent (a private person) at Mumbai, who in turn after collecting the money transferred it to the said real estate trade agent in Visakhapatnam. The Commissioner of Income Tax had visited Visakhapatnam on leave and allegedly demanded the Real Estate Trade Agent to deliver part of the money at his residence. The CBI laid a trap and caught the said Commissioner, who had received a part of the bribe amount of Rs. 19.34 lakh (approx) from the real estate trade agent. Both, the Commissioner and the real estate trade agent, were arrested. During the investigation, the remaining amount of Rs. 1.50 crore (approx), earlier received by the said real estate trade agent on behalf of the Commissioner (Income Tax) 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 arrested accused are being produced today in the designated Court. Further investigation is underway. (ANI)