PANAJI
A day after a government official was arrested for bribery in a dramatic chase, a preliminary investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) Anti-Corruption Branch has revealed that Pankaj Kumar of the Income Tax Department’s Accounts Office allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 2 lakh to process his long-pending bills.
The complaint lodged by Kamlakant Chaturvedi -- providing manpower services to the department - against Kumar and others, stated that his monthly bills are deliberately kept on hold for seven months. In the FIR, a copy of which is accessed by 'The Goan', the complainant alleged harassment and malpractice for no reason.
After a verification process, the CBI conï¬rmed that Kumar demanded a bribe. Accordingly, a trap was laid near the Central Library at Patto-Panaji on Thursday afternoon, and the government official was caught red-handed accepting Rs 1 lakh bribe.
“He was told that they (the accused) need Rs 2 lakh for the release of his long pending bills which are not paid for the last seven months. He states that he does not want to pay bribe,” the FIR states.
The CBI stated that the complainant had negotiated the bribe amount to Rs 1 lakh as a part of the trap and the raid also saw the arrest of Atul Wani. “The facts and discreet veriï¬cation prima facie disclose the commission of offences punishable under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 against Kumar and a regular case was filed.”
