Rs 1 crore, 5.5-kg gold, silver seized from IRS officer

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has seized Rs 1-crore cash and 5.5-kg gold and silver worth about Rs 3.5 crore from a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, who was arrested in a bribe case on Saturday. A 2007-batch IRS officer, Amit Kumar 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 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 etc. in the ongoing investigation related to the arrest of two accused, including a senior IRS officer,” a senior officer of the bureau told The Tribune on Monday. She disclosed 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, cash amounting to Rs 1 crore, documents of a locker and 25 bank accounts with various banks. Besides, documents of immovable properties and assets located in Delhi, Mumbai and Punjab were also seized. “The total value of all movable and immovable assets is yet to be ascertained,” she said. A senior IRS (Customs & Central Excise) officer, Singhal was posted as Additional Director General, Directorate of Taxpayer Services, CR Building, ITO, in New Delhi. A case was registered by the CBI on May 31 against both 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 allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from the complainant on behalf of the accused IRS officer in Mohali, said the official. Singhal was apprehended from his residence in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. “The investigation is continuing,” the CBI official added.

Chandigarh