New Delhi, September 11
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested three officials from Customs in Delhi and two private persons including a CHA and an employee of Delhi based private firm, in a case related to demanding and accepting bribes for showing undue favors to a Mumbai firm.
Those arrested inclde a Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Customs, a Superintendent and an Official of Inland Container Depot (ICD) Tughlakabad,
A case was registered by CBI in September this year against seven accused including Deputy Commissioner of Customs, a Superintendent and an official of Inland Container Depot (ICD) Tughlakabad, Delhi; four private persons including a CHA of Delhi based firm, an employee of the said Delhi based firm, an employee of a Mumbai based firm and a Delhi based private person and unknown others on allegations that accused public servants were demanding and accepting illegal gratification from accused CHA of the said Delhi based private company in lieu of imposing reduced penalty on the Mumbai based firm.
It was also alleged that accused public servants in connivance with each other were in the habit of demanding and accepting bribe from various private parties for clearing the pending matters related to import/export consignments and custom bonds in conspiracy with private persons including said Customs House Agent, officials added.
It was further alleged that the accused official of ICD and said DC (Customs) were in regular touch with accused CHA and accused employee of Delhi based firm for according customs clearance for consignments and were collecting illegal gratification from various private parties. The bribe money was, allegedly, taken by said ICD official in his bank account and thereafter delivered to accused DC, officials further stated.
The accused CHA contacted the said DC and asked him to impose minimum penalties on bills of the said Mumbai based firm. The DC assured him that he would impose penalties of Rs. 70,000/- and for this he demanded bribe from CHA. Accused official of ICD contacted accused CHA on 10.08.2024 and confirmed that DC has imposed a penalty of Rs. 70,000/- on the consignment and asked for delivery of bribe amount at the earliest. The accused employee of Mumbai based firm contacted said CHA and informed that payment of bribe would be handed over to him at Delhi for further delivery to said DC and accused Supdt. Customs. The CHA then, allegedly, collected the bribe amount and delivered a bribe amount of Rs 50,000/- to accused Supdt. through accused employee of Delhi based firm at ICD, Tughlakabad.
The CBI laid a trap and apprehended accused Deputy Commissioner, accused official of ICD and Custom House Agent (CHA) during exchange of illegal gratification of Rs. 72,000/- in lieu of imposing a reduced penalty on a Mumbai based firm. They also apprehended accused Superintendent ICD, Tughlakabad who was allegedly paid illegal gratification of Rs. 50,000 later.
The agency also conducted searches in Delhi, Mumbai, Faridabad, Gurugram, Raigarh and Kinnaur (HP) at nine locations belonging to the accused persons leading to recovery of incriminating documents and cash amounting to Rs. 19.25 lakhs.
