Central Excise AC, Superintendent, Inspector in CBI Custody
SOME Central Excise officers in Pune noticed that a hotel was not paying Service Tax on the Mandap Keeper Service, it had rendered. The officers computed the total liability including tax and penalty around Rs. 15 lakhs. So, a bribe of Rs. 5 Lakhs was demanded, which was finally settled for a fairly reasonable figure of Rs. 2.5 Lakhs. But the assessee did not keep its part of the bargain and informed the CBI, which spoiled the show by nabbing the Superintendent of Central Excise red handed while accepting the bribe of Rs. 1.25 lakhs as advance. The CBI arrested the Superintendent and his Assistant Commissioner and Inspector.
In this case, it seems the complaint was only against the Superintendent, but CBI enlarged the scope of investigation and arrested the other two officers. Now, it is not necessary that one has to be caught red-handed - even the other hands do get hauled up.