CBI seizes Rs 1 crore in cash, 3.5-kg gold from IRS officer's premises

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has seized Rs 1 crore in cash and 3.5 kg gold and 2 kg silver, estimated to be worth Rs 3.5 crore, from a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, who along with his aide was arrested on Saturday.

A 2007-batch IRS officer, Amit Singhal, who was posted at the Directorate of Taxpayer Services, and his close associate, Harsh Kotak, were arrested by the CBI from Delhi and Mohali, separately, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh.

“The CBI conducted searches and recovered approximately 3.5 kg of gold, 2 kg of silver and Rs 1 crore cash in the ongoing investigation related to the arrest of two accused including a senior IRS officer,” a senior officer of the federal agency told The Tribune on Monday.

She said that during the ongoing investigation in the case, the CBI has conducted searches at various premises and recovered substantial assets and incriminating material, including approximately 3.5 kg of gold and 2 kg of silver, valued at around Rs 3.5 crore, Rs 1 crore in cash, documents of a locker and 25 bank accounts with various banks, and documents of immovable properties and assets located in Delhi, Mumbai and Punjab.

“Total value of all movable and immovable assets is yet to be ascertained,” she said.

A senior IRS (Customs & Central Excise) officer of the 2007 batch, he was currently posted as Additional Director General, Directorate of Taxpayer Services, CR Building, ITO, New Delhi.

A case was registered by the CBI on May 31 against both the accused on the allegations that the IRS officer demanded illegal gratification of Rs 45 lakh from the complainant in exchange for extending favourable treatment from the Revenue/Income Tax Department. “The demand was accompanied by threats of legal action, imposition of heavy penalties, and harassment in case of non-compliance,” the CBI official said.

The CBI laid a trap and caught the IRS officer’s aide red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from the complainant on behalf of the accused IRS officer at his residence in Mohali, informed the official.

The accused public servant was apprehended from his residence in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

Both the accused were produced before the designated court in Chandigarh on Sunday and the court sent them to judicial custody.

“The investigation is continuing,” the CBI official added.