Customs Superintendent lands in ACB Vadodara net

Vadodara, Mar 28 (UNI) A Customs Superintendent was caught red-handed today here by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths while accepting a bribe of Rs 7,000.

However, an inspector, who was with him, managed to escape.

Superintendent Narsinhbhai Manjibhai Rathod of Customs&Central Excise Office (Sales Tax Division II) and Customs Inspector Rajnish Mishra were being watched by the ACB sleuths for the past two days in connection with a complaint by one Srinivasan, who runs his own classes on mobile repairing, in the Manubhai tower of Sayajigunj area here.

Rathod and Mishra had come to Srinivasan's tutorial a couple of days ago and told him that since he has no ST registration, he would be fined Rs 1.5 lakh.

Mr Srinivasan, however, told the duo that he had no money to pay such a huge fine. He was then told by the duo that in that case Rs 50,000 had to be paid to cover up the case.

Finally, the duo agreed for a sum of Rs 7,000 and it was promised to be paid today at 1400 hrs near the parking lot.

A team, led by ACB Inspector J K Rao, laid a trap and nabbed Rathod as soon as he accepted Rs 7,000 from Mr Srinivasan. Mishra, however, was a bit slow in reaching the parking slot and when he saw the hustle-bustle and Rathod being held by unfamiliar men, he then quickly made his getaway before the ACB sleuths could chase him.

Rathod was produced before a magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody.

Police then raided Mishra's residence, but he is still at large.

UNI