Mumbai: IT commissioner held for graft

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday arrested Income Tax Commissioner Daya Shankar in Mumbai for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs two lakh from a private company for passing a favourable order in an appeal matter.

"Shankar, Commissioner IT (Appeals), was arrested on Monday morning from his office in Bandra for demanding and accepting a bribe for settling and issuing a favourable order in an appeal matter pending before him," said CBI Joint Director (Western Region) Rishiraj Singh.

A firm engaged in copper wire manufacture had filed its return for assessment year 2008-09, which was taken up for scrutiny by the jurisdictional IT officer. After scrutiny, the IT officer had passed an order for additional tax liabilities. Aggrieved by this, the company approached Shankar with an appeal challenging the order.

"Shankar demanded a bribe from the company for issuing a favourable assessment order. He also told them that if they do not pay the money, then he would confirm the order passed earlier," Singh said.

CBI's Anti-Corruption Wing laid a trap for him after the company lodged a complaint, following which Shankar was caught while accepting the bribe.

"Searches are being conducted at the officer's residences in Delhi, Ghaziabad, Lucknow and Mumbai. So far we have recovered Rs 8 lakh in cash from his residence. We are investigating if the accused had taken money earlier too for passing favourable orders," the joint director said.

The accused would be produced before a special CBI court for remand on Tuesday.