CBI has arrested a Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax and an auditor in Guntur in Andhra Pradesh for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs four lakh from a man. The two arrested are A V Srinivasa Rao and Koteswara Rao, DC, Income Tax, Guntur and auditor, respectively.
According to CBI, the complainant constructed a hospital- cum-residential building at Amaravati Road, Guntur in 2004-05. After completion of the construction, he had shown the total construction value as Rs 48 lakh in the IT returns.
Later, Income Tax authorities assessed the value of the building at Rs 1.13 crore. “As the valuation was very high, the complainant himself got it valued through an independent approved valuer who in turn assessed the value of the said building at Rs 79 lakh approximately,” a CBI spokesperson said here today.
“The Deputy Commissioner called the complainant and the auditor to his office and demanded bribe of Rs four lakh from the complainant for accepting the valuation report submitted by the complainant and directed him to remain in touch with the said auditor for delivering the bribe money of Rs four lakh,” the agency said. The CBI laid a trap and the Deputy Commissioner and the auditor were caught while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs four lakh, the official said adding, further investigations are on.
The corruption in revenue departments is eating into roots of this country – nothing moves without corruption. The professional community are the middle men for tax officials. This kind of incident do encourage right thinking people. Once Nehru said that he would like to hang the black marketeer and corrupt official to be hanged to the nearest lamp post – will this country fulfill the desire our charismatic leader of democracy.