HC upholds I-T officers’ conviction

MUMBAI, November 23: The Bombay High Court has confirmed the conviction of two income tax inspectors caught red-handed while accepting brib...

MUMBAI, November 23: The Bombay High Court has confirmed the conviction of two income tax inspectors caught red-handed while accepting bribes in kind from the shops they visited over 16 years ago.

Acting on a tip-off, officers from the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) laid a trap for IT inspectors Madhusudan Gangadhar Sonawane and Dhurinder Taneja at M/s R Ismail shop on February 12, 1981. The two inspectors entered the shop, collected suitcases filled with articles from the shop and boarded a taxi. The CBI officers followed the inspectors and brought them back to the shop to record the panchanama.

The inspectors, who were alleged to have demanded articles from shops including Airlines Stores, Stylish and Roof, Lucky Toy Mart, were chargesheeted under the Prevention of Corruption Act and tried before a special judge and held guilty. The accused, however, appealed before the high court. Justice V H Bhairavia held that the IT officers had abused powers while on duty by taking gifts from the shopkeepers. While confirming the guilt of the officers, the judge has commuted their jail sentence.

“Ends of justice will be met if the term is reduced to the period already undergone by them. The fine imposed is maintained.”