Central Excise Inspectors Steal Cigarettes worth 8 Crores from ITC Factory
THE Bangalore Police last week arrested a Central Excise Inspector and two of his accomplices while transporting stolen cigarettes from ITC factory. It seems it was their daily practice and four inspectors are said to have stolen cigarettes worth more than Rs. 8 Crores in the last one year. While one inspector was arrested, the others are absconding.
We had ignored this news as the aberration of a few officers but an insider informs us that this is a big scam.
It seems that the posting to the ITC factory is done by the Chief Commissioner, maybe realising the sensitive opportunity of stealing and smuggling cigarettes.
Cigarette, being an evasion prone commodity, inspectors are posted round the clock in cigarette factories, but what can be done if the fence eats the crops, as it happened in the present case?
Our insider asks us,
1. How did these notorious inspectors get posted to ITC?
2. Are Postings in ITC sold?
3. Whether huge racket is going on with blessings of Higher-ups?
4. Why the Department did not oppose bail to one of the inspectors who was caught by Bangalore Police?
5. Who will bear the duty liability on the Rs. 8 Crores cigarettes stolen – ITC or the Inspectors?
Maybe the Board should take note and take corrective steps.