Patna: The Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrested an Assistant Commissioner of the Income Tax Department in Patna for allegedly accepting a Rs 15,000 bribe through a departmental clerk.
The officer, identified as Sunanda, and the clerk were apprehended during a trap operation at the Income Tax Department office on Thursday, according to the CBI.
The case relates to an alleged bribe demand connected with the issuance of 12A and 80G certificates to an NGO.
CBI alleges Rs 75,000 bribe demand
According to the complaint received by the CBI, Shravan Jyoti Vivekananda Sansthan, an NGO, had applied for the certificates with the Income Tax Department.
The Assistant Commissioner allegedly demanded Rs 75,000 from a representative of the organisation in exchange for processing and issuing the certificates. The complainant and the officer allegedly agreed that Rs 15,000 would be paid as the first instalment.
The NGO representative subsequently approached the CBI and reported the alleged demand.
The agency said it verified the allegations before conducting the trap operation.
Officer allegedly accepted money through clerk
During the operation, the Assistant Commissioner allegedly accepted the Rs 15,000 through the department clerk. The CBI then arrested both the officer and the clerk.
The two accused were taken into custody for questioning, while investigators began examining documents and other material connected with the case.
The CBI is also investigating whether the alleged bribe demand was an isolated incident or whether similar transactions may have taken place previously.
Allegations of harassment under investigation
The complainant has also made other allegations against the Assistant Commissioner, claiming that NGO operators from different districts of Bihar were allegedly harassed over certification and other procedural matters.
The CBI is examining these allegations as part of its investigation.
The arrests followed a trap based on the complaint, and further action will depend on the evidence gathered during the investigation. The allegations against the accused have not been established in court.
