CBI arrests Joint Commissioner Income Tax for allegedly accepting a bribe

Mumbai: A Joint Commissioner of Income Tax was arrested on Friday by the CBI for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs five lakh for settling an income tax matter.

The CBI said the official, M Jhagran who was posted at IT office at Piramal Chambers, was arrested by the agency when he was allegedly receiving the first instalment of Rs five lakh from a builder.

"A case was registered on a complaint (a builder) alleging therein that Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Piramal Chambers, has re-opened his file pertaining to Income Tax Assessment and threatened CA of the complainant that the complainant should come and meet him for settling the Income Tax matter," CBI spokesperson said.

She said the Joint Commissioner had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 30 lakh to settle the matter of Tax Assessment of complainant's construction firm.

"The bribe amount was negotiated to Rs 25 lakh and the accused agreed to accept Rs five lakh as first instalment at his office premises. CBI laid a trap and the Joint Commissioner of Income Tax was arrested while accepting the bribe from the complainant," she said.

The spokesperson said searches were conducted at residential and office premises of accused which led to recovery of property documents, gold jewellery, gold coins weighing 1.5 kg (approx) and incriminating documents.