CBI books then IT officers for receiving bribe in 2023

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The Central Bureau of Investigation has booked a corruption case against two former Income Tax officers on charges of receiving ₹9 lakh as bribe from a businessman in 2023.

The agency’s Anti-Corruption Branch registered the case against Sanjay Baburao Chinchghare, the then District Valuation Officer, Valuation Cell, Income Tax Department, Chennai, presently working as Superintending Engineer, Central Public Works Department, Chennai, and D. Manjunathan, the then Asst. Valuation Officer -1, Valuation Cell, Income Tax Department, Chennai, presently working as Assistant Engineer, Regional Training Institute, Chennai

The allegation is that the accused officers had demanded ₹9 lakh bribe from Subhash Chander Rana, partner, M/s AKS Engineering Company, Tiruvallur, for issuing favourable order in the matter of evaluating the property consisting land with building located at SIDCO Industrial Estate, Ambattur Chennai. The assessment case involving the firm was referred to the Valuation Cell by the National e-Assessment Centre, New Delhi.

Mr. Rana had met the accused officers in a flat on January 1, 2023, in Besant Nagar where the deal was finalised. After Mr. Chinchghare insisted that the bribe be paid on the same day to Mr. Manjunathan, Mr. Rana met the latter in a restaurant and handed over the money. The officers assured him that a preliminary valuation report with a back date would be issued soon after the payment.

A CBI officer said the case was based on information that surfaced during the course of investigation in a 2023 case.

In the earlier case, the CBI arrested Mr. Manjunathan and a Chartered Accountant on January 8, 2023. The case again involved Mr. Chinchghare who had jurisdiction over Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry for valuation of properties referred by the competent authority.

While handling a property assessment case, Mr. Manjunathan inspected a property belonging to Suresh Arunagiri of Anna Nagar East and observed a difference in value to the tune of ₹26 lakh. He referred him to the Chartered Accountant for further discussion.

A deal was struck for payment of ₹3.5 lakh bribe to the officers for a favourable report. Acting on a specific input, the CBI intercepted and arrested

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