The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended a stenographer from the Income Tax Department in Chennai for soliciting and receiving a bribe of Rs 1.50 lakh to resolve a taxpayer’s Rs 19 lakh dues issue. Identified as Abhinandan Singh, the stenographer was taken into custody and presented before a Special CBI Court. Following the CBI’s statement that they did not require further interrogation at the moment, Abhinandan Singh was remanded to judicial custody by the Special CBI Court in Chennai.
Search operations were carried out at the accused’s residence subsequent to his arrest in a sting operation. These searches led to the discovery of significant incriminating evidence, as per the CBI. The case was initiated on February 2 after a complaint was lodged against Abhinandan Singh, alleging that he demanded a bribe equivalent to 10% of the outstanding Income Tax dues to annul the Rs 19 lakh dues for the Assessment Year 2020-2021.
The CBI orchestrated a trap and caught Abhinandan Singh red-handed while he was demanding and receiving the illegal gratification of Rs 1.50 lakh. The bribe amount was confiscated from him during the operation. In a separate development related to Uttarakhand, the CBI has taken over the investigation of the Ankita Bhandari murder case. The Delhi-based Special Crime Branch of the CBI has initiated proceedings against an “unknown VIP” in connection with the case. Two CBI team members have been dispatched to Uttarakhand to delve into the alleged VIP involvement in the girl’s murder.
The case gained prominence following the circulation of audio clips and videos implicating former BJP legislator Suresh Rathore and his purported wife, Urmila Sanawar. Sanawar, during a Facebook Live session, hinted at the purported role of a VIP in the murder, sparking fresh controversies and public discussions. With the state government’s approval, the CBI registered an FIR based on the plea of Anil Prakash Joshi, an environmentalist and resident of Dehradun.
