CBI arrests advocate, ITAT judicial member in corruption case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an advocate and a judicial member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) at Jaipur on allegations that they indulged in corrupt activities.

A press release informing of the development was published by the CBI on its website on November 26.

As per the press statement, CBI busted a criminal network involving the advocate, the ITAT judicial member, an Assistant Registrar of the ITAT and other unknown public servants and private persons.

These persons allegedly indulged in corrupt activities by settling appeals pending before the ITAT in exchange for bribes.

The CBI registered a criminal case in the matter on November 25. The press release added that on November 25, the accused lawyer was arrested after accepting a ₹5.5 lakh bribe paid through a hawala network.

A day later, on November 26, the ITAT judicial member was arrested after an amount of ₹30 lakh was recovered from her official car.

The person who allegedly paid the bribes was also arrested on November 26.

The CBI also informed that its teams raided several places and seized cash amounting to over ₹1 crore, transaction details, property documents and other incriminating documents which indicated the presence of an organized syndicate.

Search operations and follow-up actions are in progress, the CBI's information bulletin added.