Bribery case: CBI arrests Mumbai I-T commissioner, Essar exec, four others

Official is accused of taking a bribe of Rs 2 cr to issue order in an appeal favouring Balaji Trust

Widening its probe in a bribery case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) nabbed a Commissioner of Income Tax for favouring Balaji Trust, which belongs to the Essar Group as well as a high-ranking Essar group official. 

CBI on Wednesday arrested Income Tax commissioner BB Rajendra Prasad and Essar Power executive vice chairman Pradeep Mittal, along with four others including Essar group accounts officer Vipin Bajpai, a chartered accountant , a realtor and a relative of his. 

Confirming the development, a CBI source said the investigation in the matter is on and a few more people including tax officials, executives of the company and associates of the chartered accountant would be questioned. “We are in possession of certain incriminating documents found during the searches. The evidences and interlink need further verification," said he.

CBI sources allege that Prasad accepted a bribe of Rs 2 crore and issued an order in an appeal favouring Balaji Trust. "For passing 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 agent at Mumbai, who in turn after collecting the money transferred it to another agent in Visakhapatnam.

A Balaji Trust spokesperson said, “There was a routine survey of records, conducted by CBI at the offices of two of our executives in connection with some IT assessment orders. In the present case, legal submissions were made to the relevant authorities on merits through a reputed accounting firm based on which the orders were passed in a routine manner. We categorically deny all allegations regarding any misconduct by our executives. Our executives are innocent and the company stands by them. We are confident that upon investigations, the CBI will come to the same conclusion.”

Balaji Trust was a responsible corporate citizen and conducted its business in an open and transparent manner, the statement said, "Our executives are cooperating with the investigation fully and will continue to do so." 

CBI, during the operation, caught Prasad receiving a part of the bribe amount Rs 19.34 lakh from the real estate agent, and recovered another Rs 1.50 crore from the latter. CBI sleuths conducted raids in Mumbai and Visakhapatnam at the offices and residences of all the accused leading to recovery of several property investment documents, details of bank accounts, three bank lockers and other incriminating papers. The accused were produced in the designated court on Wednesday.