CBI Arrests Two Officials of DGFT and MD of Private Company in Bribery Case

According to the allegations, these public servants were demanding and collecting substantial bribes from consultants in exchange for issuing new Import Export Certificates, renewals, and other related licenses.

The CBI laid a trap and caught the JDGFT red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 4 lakh, while the Section Head was apprehended for demanding and collecting a bribe of Rs. 50,000 from the MD of the private company. The bribe-giver, the MD of the said private company, was also arrested.

Subsequent searches conducted at the premises of the accused in Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Bangalore led to the recovery of incriminating documents. All the arrested individuals were produced before the Court of the Principal Special Judge for CBI Cases in Visakhapatnam and remanded to judicial custody until September 18, 2023.

In a separate case, the Special Judge for CBI Cases in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, convicted eight individuals, including three former Inspectors of Central Excise and Customs, Indore, and five officials from M/s Maikaal Fibers Ltd. The convicts were sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 40,000 each for causing a substantial loss to the government exchequer.

The CBI had registered a case in 2007, alleging that the public servants of Central Excise, Khalbujurg, Range-I, Indore Division, and others had conspired with officials of M/s Maikaal Fibers Ltd. during the period of 2003-2006. They facilitated the removal of excisable goods from the company's premises under the guise of exports but diverted them into the domestic tariff area without paying applicable duties. This illegal diversion resulted in an estimated loss of approximately Rs. 13 crore to the Central Excise Department.

After a thorough investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet against nine accused individuals. During the trial, one accused passed away, and the charges against them were abated. The remaining eight accused were found guilty and convicted by the Trial Court.

FAQs:

Q1. What were the specific charges against the DGFT officials and the private company MD?

A1. The JDGFT, Section Head, and MD of the private company were accused of demanding and accepting bribes for issuing Import Export Certificates, renewals, and other related licenses.

Q2. What were the bribe amounts involved in the DGFT case?

A2. The JDGFT was caught accepting a bribe of Rs. 4 lakh, while the Section Head accepted a bribe of Rs. 50,000 from the MD of the private company.

Q3. What was the nature of the Central Excise case in Indore?

A3. The case involved public servants of Central Excise, Khalbujurg, Range-I, Indore Division, and officials of M/s Maikaal Fibers Ltd. They were accused of illegally diverting excisable goods into the domestic market without paying applicable duties, causing a loss of approximately Rs. 13 crore to the government.

Q4. What were the penalties imposed in the Central Excise case?

A4. The Special Judge for CBI Cases in Indore convicted eight individuals, including three former Central Excise Inspectors and five officials from M/s Maikaal Fibers Ltd. They were sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 40,000 each.

Q5. What message does the CBI's actions send regarding corruption?

A5. The CBI's actions send a strong message that corruption within government agencies and private entities will not be tolerated. The agency is committed to upholding integrity and accountability, and those found guilty of corrupt practices will face severe consequences, including imprisonment and substantial fines.