Woman officer iInvolved in Chennai IT fraud

HYDERABAD: The probe by Chennai-based officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation into the Rs. 50 lakh bribery case involving additional commissioner of income tax in Chennai, Andasu Ravindar, has led the sleuths to the doorstep of another senior income tax officer.The investigating agency has got certain leads suggesting that Ravinder and another senior IT officer had conspired together and a portion of the bribe money was meant to be delivered to the latter.Ravinder was caught with Rs. 50 lakh in cash on August 30.The CBI also arrested Everonn Education’s managing director P Kishore who paid the bribe to evade tax.Another businessman, Uttam Chand Bohra, was also arrested for allegedly trying to help Ravinder transport the money to a safe haven.Sources told Express that the CBI officials, during the course of investigation, came across certain leads which point to the involvement of a woman income tax official.Though Rs. 50 lakh was seized from Ravinder, who hails from Khammam district, sources said the actual deal that was struck between Ravinder and Kishore was reportedly worth Rs. 4 crore.Soon after the receipt of Rs. 50 lakh, Ravinder is understood to have called up the husband of the senior IT officer saying ‘’the job is done’’.“A thorough investigation is on to find out the involvement of the senior IT official in this deal,’’ the sources said.In fact, it was purely on strong surveillance, and not on any prior complaint, that the CBI sleuths seized Rs. 50 lakh and swiftly arrested Ravinder and others.It was on August 4 that a search by Ravinder’s team on Everonn premises at Perungudi in Chennai’s suburbs revealed that the company had allegedly concealed taxable income to the tune of `116 crore.Subsequently, a chartered accountant organised a meeting between Ravinder and Kishore of Everonn.Thereafter, Ravinder met Kishore in Mumbai on August 10 for negotiations and a day later, both returned to Chennai.Kishore is alleged to have asked Ravinder to reduce the tax liability of about Rs. 60 crore out of the total Rs. 116 crore by suppressing details.Both met in Mumbai once again on August 23 and the deal was finalised.