The Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI ) has arrested an Income Tax Officer ( ITO ) of Mumbai for taking a bribe of Rs. 4 lakhs from the complainant alleging that the officer demanded bribes in exchange for issuing lower Tax Deducted at Source ( TDS ) certificate.
The allegations suggested that the Income Tax Officer demanded an undue advantage of Rs. 5.04 lakh from the complainant in exchange for issuing a lower TDS certificate concerning the sale of a property belonging to the complainant’s maternal uncle, who is a non-resident Indian ( NRI ).
Initially, the accused Income Tax Officer purportedly demanded an undue advantage equating to 2% of the total deal value of the property, amounting to Rs. 5.04 crore. However, subsequent negotiations saw this demand reduced to 1% of the deal value. Eventually, the accused settled on accepting a bribe of Rs. 4.00 lakh from the complainant.
In a meticulously planned operation, the CBI laid a trap and apprehended the accused red-handed while he was accepting the illicit payment in his office in Mumbai. The arrest took place on 02.05.2024.
Following the arrest, searches were conducted at both the office and residential premises of the accused in Mumbai. These searches yielded significant findings, including Rs. 15.00 lakh in cash, gold ornaments, and documents pertaining to investments in both immovable and movable properties. The recovered items are currently undergoing scrutiny as part of the ongoing investigation.
The investigation is under progress.
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