Kerala: Suspended income tax officials reinstated

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two Income-Tax officials who were placed under suspension after the CBI arrested them in a bribery case have been reinstated, even as the investigation agency is likely to file a charge sheet against them soon. Principal commissioner of Income-Tax in Thiruvananthapuram Shailendra Mamidi and Income Tax officer S. Sarath have been reinstated. While Sarath was already posted in Kochi, Shailendra Mamidi is awaiting posting, sources told this newspaper.

The two were placed under suspension after the CBI arrested them in October last year on charges of taking bribe from private entities for tax exemptions. It is learnt that the two were reinstated on the grounds that the CBI was yet to file charge sheet. They were also learnt to have obtained Central Administrative Tribunal orders in their favour. Meanwhile, CBI sources said that the chargesheet in the case would be filed soon. One of the accused in the case is learnt to be made an approver.

Owner of Powathil Jewellery in Ettumannor Joy Thomas, chartered accountant M.K. Kuruvilla and managing director of a Kottayam-based construction company Mathew Alex, were the others arraigned in the case. Former Chief Commissioner in Thiruvananthapuram Anil Goel may be also arraigned in the case, sources added. The CBI FIR had said that Mr Mamidi, who was also holding charge of principal commissioner of Kottayam, had demanded Rs 10 lakh to give a favourable report on the Income-Tax survey conducted on a jewellery shop based in Kottayam.

The amount was to be delivered by the Chartered Accountant of the said shop to the Principal Commissioner of Income-Tax through the partner of a construction company. CBI conducted searches and recovered about Rs 10 lakh from the partner of the construction firm. Further, searches were being conducted at different places within Kerala and outside and recovered cash of Rs 12.5 lakh and several incriminating documents.