CBI Arrests Two CBDT Officers in Panaji for Alleged Bribe in Pending Contractor Bills Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested two assistant accounts officers of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Pankaj Kumar and Aul Wani, in Panaji on Friday for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe to clear pending bills of a contractor. The arrests were made following a written complaint filed by Kamlakant Chaturvedi, a contractor whose company provides manpower services to the Income Tax Department and other entities.

Details of the Allegations

Chaturvedi reported that seven of his monthly bills, pending for seven months, were deliberately withheld by the officers for harassment.

He claimed the officers demanded ₹2 lakh for releasing the bills, which were eventually negotiated to ₹1 lakh.

Chaturvedi approached the CBI, expressing his unwillingness to pay the bribe.

CBI's Operation

The CBI verified the complaint through PI (CBI, ACB) Sandeep Haldankar, confirming that Kumar demanded the bribe.

After registering the case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018), the CBI set up a trap to catch the accused red-handed.

During the operation, Chaturvedi handed over ₹1 lakh in cash to Kumar at Patto, Panaji, leading to his immediate arrest.

CBI's Anti-Corruption Efforts

This arrest underscores the CBI's ongoing commitment to curbing corruption in public offices. Last month, the bureau registered a case involving alleged fraudulent loan approvals by a nationalized bank using forged documents, further highlighting its vigilance against financial malpractices.

Implications

The arrests bring attention to systemic issues in public service departments, where contractors and businesses often face undue harassment. The incident reinforces the need for stricter oversight mechanisms and zero tolerance for corruption to ensure transparency and accountability in government operations.