CBI on Wednesday carried out searches at the offices of a private company and residential premises of a customs officer at 15 locations across West Bengal, Punjab and Delhi in connection with an alleged bribe case of Rs. 25 lakh. CBI sources said in New Delhi that teams of agency sleuths carried out this major search operation related to alleged duty evasion by a company in transporting imported goods from Kolkata port to Jogbani in Bihar.

The sources said the private company employees allegedly acted in collusion with officials of customs officers for the duty waiver and paid a bribe of Rs. 25 lakh in this regard.

Premises of a superintendent level officer of customs were also searched by the agency, they said.

The agency has refused to name the accused as searches are still on.

The premises of private company's executives were also searched in Mumbai, Punjab and national Capital in this regard, they said.