Rank Builder | CBI Charge Sheets Two Senior Women I-T Officials In Bribery Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against two senior women Income Tax officials in a corruption case involving a bribe of Rs. 1.5 crore. The agency is separately investigating whether the two officials, in connivance with other senior officials above the rank of Joint Secretary, threatened various builders in Thane that they would conduct search operations on the offices if huge amount of bribe was not paid.

The CBI charge sheet also named the husband of one of the accused officers.

Sumitra Banerji, a 1992 batch Indian Revenue Service Officer and then Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Thane and Anjali Bambole, then Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Thane were booked in April 2010 after a builder complained that the duo demanded a bribe of Rs. 2 crore. The CBI will also investigate the role of the then Thane Commissioner of Income Tax Anirudh Rai in the corruption case.

The third person named in the charge sheet is Subroto Banerji, a chemical engineer and businessman, who is charged with accepting the bribe of Rs. 1.5 crore.

Officials said Thane's Income Tax department conducted a survey of Ram developers, a firm engaged in construction business.

"The survey team was headed by Anjali Bambole. While the survey was in progress, Sumitra Banerji visited the firm's office and threatened one of the partners that if a bribe of Rs. 2 crore was not paid, the survey would be converted into a search operation. She also instructed Ms. Bambole to prepare fake documents so that a particular amount is arrived at as undisclosed income," a CBI official said.

He said that while Ms. Bambole prepared fake documents, the negotiation was on for reducing the amount of bribe, which was decided as Rs. 1.5 crore.

"The CBI arrested Mr. Subroto Banerji while accepting the said bribe amount of Rs. 1.5 crore," a press release issued by the agency stated.

After Ms. Banerji confirmed with her husband about the receipt of the bribe amount, she called up Mr. Anirudh Rai to tell him about it.

Since Mr. Rai's position is above the Joint Secretary level, the CBI had to take permission from the central government to investigate charges against him.

"We have got the permission now. We are looking into his role," a senior CBI official said.

"The CBI found during investigation that the above group of officers were adopting the same modus operandi," the release stated. It said several builders were threatened with raids if bribe was not paid. "This matter is being separately investigated by the CBI," an official said.