Did CBI Arrest an IT Inspector in Vijayawada for Bribery?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- CBI's commitment to combat corruption is evident through this arrest.
- Importance of transparency in public service highlighted.
- The case illustrates the challenges of bribery in government sectors.
- Negotiation tactics used by the accused to lower the bribe amount.
- Ongoing investigations show that the CBI is actively pursuing further leads.
Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), July 29 (NationPress) - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended an Income Tax inspector along with a middleman in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, for soliciting and accepting a bribe amounting to Rs 70,000, as detailed in an agency statement.
The agency disclosed that the duo was caught for demanding this bribe from the complainant to avoid taking action on petitions filed against them and to refrain from initiating an income tax raid.
On Tuesday, the CBI filed charges against the accused – IT Inspector B. Ramachandra Rao and middleman Raju, also known as Rajaratnam, who lives in Pala Gudem, Eluru.
According to the complaint, an official from the Commissioner of Income Tax's office initially requested a bribe of Rs 5 lakh through a middleman from the complainant, who operates a mobile service shop in Ramachandra Rao Peta, Eluru, in return for not issuing notices regarding the petitions against him and to avoid an income tax raid.
After the complainant indicated they could not afford such a high bribe, the accused ultimately agreed to settle for Rs 1.20 lakh (comprising Rs 1 lakh for the officer and Rs 20,000 for the middleman).
The CBI reported that they set up a trap and apprehended the middleman in the act of accepting Rs 70,000 from the complainant on behalf of the Income Tax Inspector in Vijayawada.
Following this, both individuals were taken into custody and are scheduled to appear before the Special Court for CBI cases in Vijayawada.
The CBI has also indicated that searches are underway, and further investigations are ongoing.