CBI files FIR against three people for alleged corruption in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Visakhapatnam wing, filed an FIR against an assistant director-rank officer in the income tax department, Amrit Kumar, who allegedly engaged in corruption and illegal activities by obtaining huge illegal gratification for showing undue favours in an income tax case. The CBI officials registered a case against two more persons, including a school correspondent and a chartered accountant, along with him, as well as a few unknown public servants and private persons.On Feb 5, CBI officials arrested Nalanda English Medium School correspondent Nerella Venkata Rajesh and chartered accountant Grandhi Sarath Kumar, who allegedly mediated between Rajesh and the IT officials to make a deal.According to the CBI, it received information about assistant director Amrit Kumar of the investigation wing of unit III (1) in the IT department, who engaged in corruption. He found that an assessee, Venkata Rajesh, misused funds of Rs 2 crore of the society by transferring them to his personal account. The IT officer suggested some corrections in the income tax return to be filed in respect of the said society. He allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh and later reduced it to Rs 14 lakh to show undue favour to Rajesh. The CA mediated and collected the money from Rajesh to pay the IT officer. Rajesh and Sarath Kumar were arrested at Narsipatnam.The CBI officials booked all three under section 61(2) BNS, 2023, and sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.