Former Excise Official Sentenced to Four Years in Jail for Bribery
Synopsis
A former Central Excise official has been sentenced to four years in prison for accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 over a decade ago. This ruling by a Special CBI Court in Siliguri reflects the ongoing battle against corruption in public service sectors.
Key Takeaways
Former official sentenced to 4 years for bribery.
Bribe amount was Rs 30,000 .
CBI's efforts led to the recovery of the bribe.
Ongoing battle against corruption in public service.
Significant role of INTERPOL in extraditions.
Siliguri, Feb 27 (NationPress) A Special CBI Court in Siliguri has found a former Central Excise department official guilty and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for four years, along with a fine of Rs 40,000, for accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 more than a decade ago, as stated by an official.
Achintya Kumar Pramanik, who served as the Superintendent of Central Excise at the Assistant Commissioner, Central Excise and Service Tax, Cooch Behar Division, was apprehended by the CBI, as detailed in their statement.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) initiated the case on September 14, 2015, following a complaint that accused the official of soliciting a bribe of Rs 1,00,000 from the owner of a private firm.
The following day, the CBI set up a sting operation and caught the accused red-handed while he was demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from the complainant, recovering the money from his possession, as per the CBI's statement.
After thorough investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet against Pramanik on December 30, 2015.
The court delivered its sentence on Thursday.
In a separate matter, the CBI successfully facilitated the return of a Red Notice subject, Anil Kumar Reddy Yeddula, from the UAE through INTERPOL channels.
Yeddula was wanted by the Andhra Pradesh Police for offenses including cheating, criminal breach of trust, and criminal intimidation, according to the CBI.
The International Police Cooperation Unit (IPCU) of the CBI, in partnership with the MEA and NCB-Abu Dhabi, successfully brought Yeddula back to India on Thursday, as stated by an official.
Accompanied by a team from Dubai Police, Yeddula arrived at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad from Dubai on Thursday and was subsequently handed over to the Andhra Pradesh police.
The CBI had requested the publication of the Red Notice through INTERPOL on September 5, 2022, at the behest of the Andhra Pradesh Police.
UAE authorities arrested Yeddula, after which it was decided to extradite him to India, as noted in the statement.
Red Notices issued by INTERPOL are disseminated to all law enforcement agencies worldwide to aid in tracking wanted criminals.
As the National Central Bureau for INTERPOL in India, the CBI collaborates with all law enforcement agencies in the country via BHARATPOL for support through INTERPOL channels.
In recent years, over 130 wanted criminals have been successfully returned to India through coordination with INTERPOL channels, the statement concluded.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the sentence given to the former excise official?
The former excise official was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 40,000.
What was the bribe amount involved in the case?
The official was convicted for accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000.
When was the case against Achintya Kumar Pramanik initiated?
The case was registered on September 14, 2015.
What other significant operation did the CBI conduct recently?
The CBI facilitated the extradition of Anil Kumar Reddy Yeddula from the UAE.
How many wanted criminals have been returned to India via INTERPOL recently?
More than 130 wanted criminals have been brought back to India through INTERPOL coordination in recent years.
