Caught taking Rs 10 lakh bribe, excise officer of Hyderabad arrested by CBI

The superintendent of central excise allegedly demanded the bribe as illegal gratification to favour a company in his report and to cover up the irregularities found there.

The CBI on Wednesday arrested S Gopala Krishna Murthy, superintendent of central excise posted in Hyderabad, for allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs 10 lakh for favouring a company.

The superintendent of central excise allegedly demanded the bribe as illegal gratification to favour a company.(HT photo for representation)

Murthy conducted an inspection of a company KM Plastics on March 1 during which he had flagged several irregularities, the agency said.

He had allegedly demanded Rs 10 lakh as illegal gratification from its owner Jagdish Prasad to favour the company in his report and to cover up the irregularities, the CBI alleged in its FIR.

While the first instalment of Rs six lakh was delivered to Murthy, the second instalment of Rs four lakh was being “delivered today afternoon” when the CBI team carried out a surprise raid and arrested Murthy, the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.

A case has been registered under graft charges, it said.

“Searches were conducted at the official and residential premises of the accused which led to recovery of Rs 5.6 lakh along with several other incriminating documents,” CBI spokesperson RK Gaur said.