CBI books customs officer for demanding bribe to clear gold

The CBI has booked a Deputy Commissioner (customs) posted at the Mundra Port and a private individual for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 30 lakh for clearing a 27-kg gold consignment.
The agency has arrested the private person, who was allegedly acting as a middleman, while Deputy Commissioner S J Singh is absconding, a CBI spokesperson said here today.
It is alleged that the Deputy Commissioner was initially asking for a bribe of Rs 40 lakh from the customs house agent in Ahmedabad for clearing the gold consignment (worth over Rs 7 crore as per current market rates) in July, he said.

The alleged bribe amount was brought down to Rs 30 lakh after negotiations, the official said.
The agent had already paid Rs 10 lakh as first instalment but when the officer started pressuring him for the remaining amount, he approached the CBI, he said.
The CBI laid a trap and arrested middleman Hiten Thakkar who had collected the amount from the agent, he said, adding the Deputy Commissioner is absconding.