Demonetisation effect: Demand of bribe in instalments lands Income Tax official in CBI custody

Demonetisation might have curb bribery due to unavailability of new currency but some babus are finding unique ways around the problem like by allowing bribes in instalments.

One such attempt of an Income Tax officer in Visakhapatnam to allegedly get illegal gratification in instalments landed him in CBI custody, CBI sources said.

It was alleged that B Srinivasa Rao, an Income Tax officer from Visakhapatnam, had demanded a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh from a person who had given his plot for redevelopment to a builder.

The person expressed his inability to produce so much cash because of the curbs imposed on the withdrawal of currency post the demonetisation of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes on November 8, the sources said.

Rao asked the person to give the bribe in instalments, they said.

When the first instalment of Rs 30,000 was being exchanged, CBI caught the ITO, they said.

"It was alleged that the complainant who gave his plot for development to a builder was yet to receive his share of 12 flats. The accused demanded a bribe of Rs 1,50,000 for dropping further proceedings with reference to the notice issued to the complainant in respect of sale of immovable property which require payment of capital gains," CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh said on Wednesday.

She said during the searches conducted at the office and residential premises of accused at Visakhapatnam, several incriminating documents and approximately Rs 2.03 lakh in cash were recovered.