CBI arrests three Central Excise Officials in a bribery case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested two Superintendents and an Inspector of Central Excise, Audit Department (Government. of India) for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs. 3 lakh from the complainant.

The investigative agency arrested the government officers from Murthal, District- Sonepat (Haryana), while demanding and accepting the bribe amount.

The CBI registered the case on a complaint alleging that the accused officials of Central Excise visited the office premises of the complainant's company to conduct audit on February 13 and during the audit, they allegedly raised many objections like double billing, evasion of Excise Duty etc. and they informed the complainant that penalty of Rs. 25-30 lakh would be imposed on the company.

It was further alleged that the accused informed the complainant to pay a bribe of Rs. 10 lakh in order to minimise 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 Rs. 9 lakh and the accused also agreed to accept Rs. 3 lakh as the first installment.

The CBI laid a trap to nab the culprits. Searches were conducted at the official and residential premises of the accused, including Gurgaon and Delhi.

Cash of Rs. 9.2 lakh (approximately), around one kg gold and 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 is being produced today in the Competent Court at Panchkula (Haryana).