I-T official in CBI net for graft

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a 51-year-old joint commissioner of income tax in Mumbai on Thursday evening for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of `5 lakh from a real estate developer for not initiating action against him and ‘settling’ an income tax matter.

The joint commissioner identified as Santosh Jangre (51) is likely to be booked for amassing disproportionate assets to his known sources of income, said a CBI source, as in his house search it was revealed that he has flats in his name or in the name of his family members. Two of these flats, and one commercial place, are in the posh Hiranandani area of Powai, with their cost running into several crores. If proven, his family members will be booked along with him.

Further, the CBI also found 1.5 kilogrammes of gold and documents relating to mutual funds and fixed deposits running into several lakhs. More searches are underway.

A CBI source said Jangre’s predecessor had cleared an assessment file of the complainant. But Jangre deliberately reopened the file and told the complainant he needs to pay `1.20 crore to the government.

In order to waive the entire amount, Jangre threatened the builder to come to his office where he demanded a bribe of `30 lakh. The amount was negotiated and brought down to `25 lakh with `5 lakh as first installment. Jangre made the demand inside his cabin. On December 9 the complainant approached the CBI with a complaint.

The CBI swiftly operated and laid a trap next day. Jangre asked him to come near a Hanuman temple near his office in Piramal chambers.

The complainant builder reached the spot in his car. Jangre asked him to step out of his car and allowed him to sit in his official car. At some distance after money switched hands, he asked the builder to get out of the car.

As Jangre was fleeing the spot in his official car, the undercover CBI officials swooped in and intercepted his car. During investigations the CBI learnt that both of Jangre’s kidneys had malfunctioned and he requires a kidney transplant. He has been remanded to CBI custody till December 14.