CBI arrests Service Tax Commissioner for graft

CBI on Saturday arrested the Service Tax Commissioner of West Bengal's Haldia port G Shree Harsh for allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs five lakh from a company engaged in loading and offloading of cargo.

The CBI claimed that the amount was the last instalment of Rs 20 lakh allegedly demanded by Harsh, a 1990 batch officer of Customs and Central Excise, to do favours to the company in a matter of assessment of their unpaid service tax.

The agency said the officer had conducted a “perfunctory inquiry and investigation with dishonest intent” to favour the company.

One of the directors of the company Asgar Ali and another person, Parvez Akhter, who carried cash to the official residence of Harsh late last night, have also been arrested.

The agency also arrested a close aide of the officer, J Prasant Kumar, who had allegedly received the money.

The company was engaged in stevedoring and offshore cargo handling in Haldia Dock Complex.