Two income tax officials sentenced to jail

Kolkata, Jun 6 (UNI) Calcutta High Court today upheld the lower court order sentencing two income tax officials for taking bribes from a non-govenmental orgnisation funded by French novelist Domique Lappiere.

Saying it was a henious crime, Justice Asim Kumar Roy asked the two officials who were on bail to surrender before the authorities in 15 days.

Arun Kumar Bhattacharya and Biswanath Samaddar were lured into a trap set by Central investigating agency CBI after Sunderbans-based NGO Southern Health Improvement Soceity alleged that the two officials had demanded a bribe of Rs 25,000 for renewal of certificate for income tax exemption.

NGOs are entitled to get exemption of income tax under section 80G of Income Tax Rules.

Southern Health Improvement Soceity, funded by the City of Joy writer Lappiere, offers medical services to the poor, impoverished inhabitants of the remote Sunderbans islands. It applied for renewal of the certificate for income tax exemption in November 17, 1995.

Two income officials were arrested on December 8 , 1995 and remanded to jail , but they got a breather on a bail plea .

Special judge of Alipore Sessions Court sentenced them to three years' rigourous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 5,000 each in February , 2001.

The accused moved petition before the high court challenging the order and prayed for bail, which was granted by the court.

The single bench reviewed the order and upheld the lower court judgement.

UNI