I-T inspector injures cop to escape arrest for accepting Rs1.55 lakh bribe

Surat: Sleuths of anti-corruption bureau booked an income-tax inspector posted at Vapi income-tax office (ITO) on Friday for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs1.55 lakh for not taking action against a private financier. I-T inspector Ravindra Bokde escaped after accepting the bribe money and injuring an assistant sub-inspector of ACB, who tried to stop his car. The trap sent shock waves through government offices in south Gujarat.
Along with a case at Valsad ACB police station, Bokde was also booked at Vapi town police station on attempt to kill charges. ASI Kamlesh Modi suffered injuries in legs and hands when he tried to stop Bokde from escaping in his car. The accused allegedly drove the car over the legs of Modi.

The complainant was served a notice by I-T department about his business of private financing. The complainant met Bokde, who is in-charge of zones 3 and 6 under Vapi ITO. Bokde demanded Rs2 lakh from the complainant for not taking any action against him. The accused agreed to accept Rs1.55 lakh from the complainant who later approached ACB and lodged a complaint. Police inspector B K Vanaar laid a trap on Friday and as per the plan the complainant went to pay the bribe money to the accused.

The complainant went to the office of Bokde but the accused took him to another location in his car. When they reached opposite Pramukh Green Residency on Chala Daman Road, the complainant handed over the money to the accused outside the car and he was soon surrounded by the ACB officials. However, the accused rushed to his car and sped away dangerously through heavy traffic of Vapi to avoid arrest, but leaving a cop injured.

“ACB conducted searches at the houses of the accused in Vapi and Ahmedabad. We are looking for the accused, who is on the run. ACB and police in Vapi are looking for the accused,” said P M Parmar, assistant director, ACB, Surat.