CBI Arrests Hyderabad Income Tax Commissioner, Four Others in Rs 70 Lakh Bribery Case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Jeevan Lal Lavidiya, Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemption) in Hyderabad, and four others, including a Deputy General Manager of Shapoorji Pallonji Group, in connection with a Rs 70 lakh bribery case. Lavidiya, a 2004-batch IRS officer, allegedly demanded the bribe to settle a tax appeal favourably for the conglomerate. The arrests followed a trap operation where part of the alleged bribe amount was exchanged, officials said.
Unpacked:
The CBI conducted raids at 18 locations across Mumbai, Hyderabad, Khammam, Visakhapatnam, and New Delhi, seizing incriminating documents and Rs 69 lakh in cash, in addition to the bribe amount. These materials are expected to serve as evidence supporting the bribery allegations against Jeevan Lal Lavidiya and others involved.
Arrested alongside Lavidiya were Viral Kantilal Mehta (Deputy General Manager, Taxation, Shapoorji Pallonji Group), Sairam Palisetty, Natta Veera Naga Sri Ram Gopal, and Sajida Majhar Hussain Shah. Shah was allegedly delivering the bribe, while the others acted as intermediaries or facilitators in the bribery scheme.
The Shapoorji Pallonji Group is a major business conglomerate whose tax appeal was allegedly being settled in their favor through the bribe. Viral Kantilal Mehta, a senior executive from the group, was arrested, but the company has not issued an official response regarding the bribery allegations or the arrests.
Yes, more arrests are possible. The FIR names 15 individuals, and officials said the investigation and searches were ongoing. The CBI indicated that further arrests could occur as the probe continues and more evidence emerges.