Exicse officials collected Rs 1.63 lakh bribe in one day from bars operating with expired licenses

Siddharth Prabhakar | TNN | Jan 18, 2018, 23:46 IST

Chennai: Bribes collected from Tasmac bars run with expired licenses may run up to Rs 1.6 lakh per day, if a recent case booked by DVAC is any indication. 

Officials of Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption (DVAC) have busted a modus operandi of some officials in the excise department in Coimbatore where they were collecting Rs 5,000 each from Tasmac bars which were operating despite expiry of licenses.

Jeyachitra, divisional excise officer and M Senthilkumararajan, revenue inspector (excise) of the Coimbatore North area, were nabbed after a surprise check by DVAC officials based on a complaint by district inspection cell officer PN Prabhakaran.
During the check on January 5, officials discovered that a silver colour Tata Indica had been hired along with a driver to collect bribes. A total of Rs 95,940 was found on Jeyachitra, of which Rs 55,500 was found in a leather bag and Rs 35,000 was in a cover. A total of Rs 56,000 was the collection from 10 bars visited prior to the one where the surprise check was conducted, officials said. The driver of the car was given Rs 500, DVAC said in the FIR. The licenses for the bars had expired on December 31.

The officials had collected Rs 1.63 lakh in a single day through these bribes, the FIR stated. The bribes collected meticulously noted down in a 72-page note which was collected as evidence from the excise officials.

Jeyachitra had allegedly kept aside Rs 35,000 in a cover to be given to Senthilkumararajan while the remaining Rs 1.28 lakh meant for herself was kept in an almirah in the corner of the first floor of her house, DVAC said in the FIR.

A case was registered by DVAC inspector G Arumugam under Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 read with 13(1)(d) on January 5. The sections pertain to criminal misconduct by public servant and obtaining a pecuniary advantage by corrupt or illegal means.