CBI arrests three Central Excise officials in graft case
By TIOL News Service
NEW DELHI, FEB 21, 2017: IN a graft case, the Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested two superintendents and an inspector, all of Central Excise Audit Department (Govt. of India), Murthal, district - Sonepat (Haryana) while demanding & accepting bribe of three lakh rupees from the complainant.
As per a CBI press release, a case has been registered on a complaint alleging that the said officials of Central Excise visited the office premises of the complainant's company to conduct audit on 13.02.2017. During audit, they allegedly raised many objections like double billing, evasion of excise duty etc. They also informed the complainant that a penalty of Rs.25-30 lakhs would be imposed on the company. It was further alleged that the accused informed the complainant to pay a bribe of Rs.10 lakhs in order to minimize the duty and penalty likely to be imposed on the complainant's company. On the request of the complainant, the alleged bribe amount was reduced to nine lakh rupees. The accused also agreed to accept three lakh rupees as first instalment.
CBI laid a trap and caught the two superintendents and an inspector while demanding & accepting bribe of three lakh rupees from the complainant. Searches were conducted at the official and residential premises of the accused, including Gurgaon & Delhi. Cash of Rs.9.2 lakhs (approx); around one kg gold & documents related to property were recovered from the premises of one superintendent and FDRs; details of certain bank accounts; lockers from the premises of other accused.
The arrested accused are being produced today in the Competent Court at Panchkula (Haryana).
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