Five Years Rigorous Imprisonment To Then Assistant Director Of Income Tax And A Private Person For Accepting Bribe Of Rs. One Lakh
The Special Judge, CBI Cases, Dhanbad (Jharkhand) has sentenced Sh. Swarn Singh, then Assistant Director, Income Tax (Investigation), Dhanbad to undergo five years Rigorous Imprisonment with a fine of Rs. one lakh and Sh. Mrityunjay Kumar Chourasia, a private person to undergo five years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs. 50,000/- in a bribery case.
CBI had registered a case on 21.01.2004 U/s 120-B of IPC r/w 7, 8 and 10 of PC Act, 1988 on a complaint against Shri Swarn Singh, Assistant Director, Income Tax (Investigation), Dhanbad and Shri Mrityunjay Kumar Chourasia alias Tinku Chourasia (private person) for demanding an illegal gratification of Rs. 15,00,000/- from the complainant for showing favour in the preparation of a favourable Appraisal Report, releasing of frozen bank accounts and not causing further enquiry in the matter in which the Income Tax Department conducted raids in the business establishments, residences of complainant and his relatives. CBI laid a trap and caught Shri Swarn Singh and Shri Mrityunjay Kumar Chourasia red handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 1,00,000/- as 1st instalment out of total bribe of Rs. 15,00,000/-.
After investigation, a chargesheet was filed on 21.03.2005 against said accused persons U/s 120-B of IPC & Section 7 and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of PC Act, 1988. The Trial Court found the accused guilty and convicted them.
CBI Press Release – New Delhi, 08.02.2019
Bribe in Income tax is common. But since most of the tax payers are not honest, getting assessment finalised by giving bribe is more beneficial to them. Moreover the relationship with department is permanent, so they can’t effort fight with department.
Only way out is evolution of a full proof system where neither Assessing Officer nor assessee or his/her representative can know or interact with each other.
Only strong political will can eliminate corruption from Incometax department.