CBI registers graft case against 4 central excise officials

The CBI registered a case of corruption against a superintendent and three other Central Excise officials after the agency conducted searches in the Mundra Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of Kutch district, an official statement issued here today.
"The Central Bureau of Investigation registered a case under Section 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code along with Section 13(2) and Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act against four Central excise officials today," the CBI statement said.
"The case has been registered against Superintendent J V Bhutani, along with three preventive officers S K Chavda, Vikas Bagdi and Jay Uchat, all Central Excise officers posted at Ports and SEZ, Mundra (Gujarat), besides other unknown persons," it stated.

Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act stands for punishment for a term of one to seven years, while Section 13 (1) (d) of the Act stands for alleged offender who as a public servant, has obtained any valuable thing or pecuniary advantage without any public interest.
As per the CBI statement, the agency recovered cash and other valuables of about Rs 60 lakhs from the officials' place.
The CBI conducted searches at the official and residential premises of the Superintendent, which led to recoveries of cash worth Rs 29.11 lakh, six fix deposits of Rs 7.80 lakh in his and wife's name, gold biscuits and jewellery, besides papers related to three flats as well as plots, some insurance policies along with shares of investments, it said.

Cash worth Rs 5.77 lakh, documents of investments and four foreign liquor bottles were recovered from a Preventive Officer, it said.
Cash worth Rs 3.06 lakh, jewellery worth Rs 7.77 lakh, certain documents of investments in National Savings Certificate (NSC) and Kisan Vikas Patra (KVPs) were recovered from other two preventive officers, it said.
A joint surprise check was also conducted along with officers of the Central Excise at the office premises of the accused, the CBI statement said.