CBI arrests absconding Maha CGST official in Rs 40 lakh bribe case
Mumbai, Sep 21 (IANS) The CBI arrested a CGST official from Uttarakhand’s Rishikesh in connection with a Rs 40 lakh bribe case that involved proceedings against a company based in Maharashtra’s Raigad, an official said on Monday.
Additional Commissioner, CGST, Vinay Kumar Kantheti, IRS 2009 batch, has been absconding since September 16, when the Bombay High Court cancelled his bail, along with that of two co-accused, and directed him to surrender before the CBI, the official said.
Instead of complying with the High Court’s order, Kantheti absconded and has now been traced in Rishikesh and taken into custody by the CBI, said the statement.
His colleague and Superintendent, CGST, Raigad, Rakesh Kumar Sinha, and a private person, Narinder Rajput, who worked as a conduit to the college on behalf of the officials, are already in judicial custody, the CBI said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Anti-Corruption Branch, Mumbai, registered a case on August 26 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, based on a complaint alleging that a Superintendent, CGST, Khandeshwar, Raigad, demanded illegal gratification.
It was alleged that an illegal gratification of Rs 1.50 crore, subsequently reduced to Rs 40 lakh, was demanded in connection with proceedings relating to the complainant’s firm, the CBI said
The Central probe agency laid a trap on August 27, during which a private person/Customs House Agent was apprehended while allegedly accepting Rs 40 lakh on behalf of the Superintendent, CGST, Raigad and the Additional Commissioner, CGST, Raigad, it said.
The CBI arrested all three accused and produced them before the learned Special CBI Court, Thane. The CBI sought five days of police custody for custodial interrogation. However, vide order dated August 28, the Special Court rejected the request for custody, held the arrests illegal and released the accused on bail, the statement said.
The CBI challenged the Special Court’s order before the Bombay High Court, which accepted the agency’s plea, quashed and set aside the Special Court’s order, and remanded three accused to two days’ CBI custody.
After examining the record, the High Court found that the grounds of arrest had been communicated to the accused in writing and that the family members and advocates had been duly informed, the statement said.
Pursuant to the High Court order, the accused Superintendent and the accused private person were taken into CBI custody for two days and subsequently sent to 14 days of judicial custody by the Court, the CBI said.
However, the accused Additional Commissioner, Vinay Kumar Kantheti, absconded instead of complying with the High Court order. The CBI said it has now arrested him He Rishikesh.
–IANS
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