By TIOL News Service

CHENNAI, MAR 07, 2015: THE Chennai CBI, based on certain complaints, made a surprise check at Trichy International Airport Arrival Hall on the intervening night of 05.03.2015 and 06.03.2015 and seized unauthorized cash and bribe amounts to the tune of Rs 2.94 lakhs.

In this regard, as per CBI official release, five Customs officials - Sivaswamy, Superintendent, Ravikumar, Superintendent, Dinesh Prajapati, Inspector, Suresh Kumar, Inspector, Avijit Chakraborthy, Inspector and a passenger Nagoor Meeran - were arrested and a case was registered.

Further, CBI also conducted searches at the permanent as well as the present residences of the above accused at Trichy, Salem, Kolkata, Jaipur and Biwani in Haryana. Lakhs of rupees of cash and incriminating documents were seized. Certain bank accounts and lockers have also been identified. The case is under active investigation.

Earlier, CBI had received reliable information that the Customs officials have been demanding and accepting bribes and not levying requisite duty for dutiable goods being brought by various International passengers arriving at Trichy International Airport. CBI, after careful verification and observation, has conducted a Surprise Check on the intervening night of 05.03.2015 and 06.03.2015 and caught the above Customs Officials red handed along with bribe amount and one of the passengers who had paid the bribe. It was found that the passenger was bringing two hi-end LED Samsung Television sets. The Customs officials have levied duty only in respect of one T.V. set but released the other T.V. set without collecting any duty after accepting a bribe. Similar bribe amounts have been collected by these officials from various other passengers of the day to the tune of Rs.2.94 lakhs.