Chennai customs officer booked for demanding bribe

CHENNAI: The Central Bureau Of investigation (CBI) has booked a 29-year-old preventive officer of the Chennai customs for demanding Rs 2,000 to clear imported goods.

The Prevention of Corruption Act was invoked against Manish Mittal --a group III officer posted at customs house on Rajaji Salai -- based on the complaint of Suresh of Mirthikashree Enterprises.

According to the FIR, the firm imported 25 metric tonne of 2mm clear glass from China. The consignment reached Chennai port on May 19. While the clearance from customs was handed over to a third-party licence holder, it was not cleared by customs stating that a case was pending against the importer.

Even after the complainant clarified that he had been acquitted from the case and submitted relevant documents, the papers were shuttled between officers. The superintendent (docks intelligence unit) allegedly informed the complainant that the consignment should be subjected to tests in the lab.

When Suresh approached Manish Mittal again, he allegedly demanded Rs 2,000 to take up the file for verification again. Based on Suresh's complaint, the CBI initiated an inquiry and confirmed the commission of offence based on the recorded conversation between the accused and the complainant at the Customs House on June 4.

The complaint was forwarded to the state govt. With the state govt’s ascent, the CBI registered a case against Manish Mittal.