New Delhi:A Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, arrested along with others by CBI for allegedly receiving bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh to favour private companies in their tax assessment-related matters, has been granted interim bail for one month by a Delhi court.
Special CBI Judge S C Rajan granted one month interim bail to M Logapathy, an IRS officer of 2008 batch, on health ground on a personal bond of Rs one lakh with a surety of the like amount.
“Considering the report submitted by medical officer and in view of the submissions of counsel, the applicant/accused M Logapathy is admitted to interim bail for a period of one month on furnishing personal bond in a sum of Rs one lakh with one surety of the like amount,” the court said.
Logapathy had sought bail, saying he was arrested on April 15 and was not required for any further interrogation by CBI. His counsel argued that two co-accused have already been granted interim bail on medical ground and health condition of Logapathy, who was suffering from serious liver ailment, was deteriorating as he was not getting proper treatment in jail. The defence counsel also said that daughter of the accused had suffered serious head injuries and Logapathy was required to look after her.
He also contended that the accused be released on interim bail as he was required to get proper treatment outside the jail for his ailment. CBI, however, opposed his plea, saying the probe in the case was going on and was likely to conclude within the prescribed 60-day period. The judge granted interim bail to Logapathy and directed him to surrender either before the court or directly to jail superintendent after expiry of the bail period.
CBI had earlier alleged that accused Hitesh Kumar, an advocate, was having close contacts with Logapathy and he was acting as a middleman to collect illegal gratification from private parties in lieu of extending undue favours in their tax assessment-related matters.
It had alleged that Vikas Singla, Director of M/s CBS Steel Pvt Ltd, had approached Hitesh to pursue tax assessment matters of his firms pending with Logapathy and he had also agreed to pay bribe to the IRS officer.
CBI had claimed that Hitesh was to deliver illegal gratification of Rs 1.5 lakh to Logapathy at his office on April 15 and a trap was laid in which the accused were arrested. It had alleged that a sum of Rs 50,000 was recovered from the officer while Rs one lakh was recovered from co-accused Abhishek Kumar, a private attendant of Logapathy.
