CBI swoops on 14 customs officers for taking bribes

MUMBAI - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Tuesday raided the offices and houses of 14 senior customs officials and a custom house agent in Mumbai and Thane for indulging in corrupt practices, an official said.

The officials - whose identities have not been revealed - have been charged with receiving illegal gratification in the form of cash, electronic gadgets, laptops, mobiles, airconditioners, domestic and international air tickets and tour expenses for favouring the custom house agent.

A total of 32 CBI teams raided 38 premises, official and residential, and learned that many of these officers owned more than one residence.

Incriminating documents and other evidence were seized during the searches, which are still in progress, the official said.

The officials range from an additional commissioner of customs to preventive officers and were caught when they were discussing the nature of job to be performed for the agent and what they would get in return

According to the official, the custom officials’ “acts establish a conspiracy that was hatched between the public servants and the agent who is a habitual bribe giver”.

“Accordingly, the public servants had extended pecuniary advantage to the said agent in various matters after receiving bribes and other considerations,” the official said.