The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested two Income Tax Officers posted at Belagavi & Vijapura (both in Karnataka) and a private person in an alleged bribery case of Rs.2.5 lakh.
The accused are Abhishek Tripathy, an official in Vijayapura, Alok Tiwari, posted at Vijayapura and his driver Sunil Jadhav.

A case was registered U/s 120-B of IPC and Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against Income Tax Officer (TDS), Ward No.1, Income Tax Department, Belagavi (Karnataka) on the allegations that he had demanded Rs.Four lakh from the complainant as a motive or reward for dropping the prosecution proceedings initiated by the Income Tax Department U/s 276-B of IT Act. On negotiation, the demand was reduced to Rs. 2.50 lakh and the accused directed the complainant to pay the same through another Income Tax Officer posted at Vijapura (Karnataka). Further, the other Income Tax Officer directed the complainant to deliver the money to his driver(private person). CBI laid a trap and caught the driver (private person) red handed while accepting the bribe of Rs.2.5 lakh from the complainant at Vijapura. CBI also arrested both the Income Tax Officers.

Searches were conducted in five places at Belagavi & Vijapura including the official and residential premises of accused persons. During the searches, details of bank deposits counter-foils, RTGS remittances, insurances policies and one bank locker were recovered.

All the three accused persons were produced today before the 3rd Additional District & Sessions Judge for CBI Cases, Dharwad (Karnataka) and remanded to Judicial Custody.