Court dismisses bail plea of IRS officer in corruption case

A Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, arrested along with others by CBI for allegedly receiving bribe of Rs1.5 lakh to favour private firms in their tax assessment related matters, has been denied bail by a Delhi court.

The court dismissed the bail petition of M Logapathy, an IRS officer of 2008 batch, after the agency opposed his plea contending that investigation in the case was in progress and important witnesses were yet to be examined.
"...I am of the view that the applicant cannot be released on bail at this stage," Special CBI Judge S C Rajan said.
Logapathy had sought bail claiming that he was falsely implicated in the case in which he was arrested on April 15 and was not required for any further interrogation by CBI.
His counsel had argued that no preliminary inquiry was conducted by CBI before arresting Logapathy, who is a public servant and has now been under suspension from service.
The defence counsel also said that Logapathy is a chronic patient suffering from serious ailments of liver and keeping him in continuous custody would not be good for his health.
Countering the submissions, the agency alleged that the accused has committed serious offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The prosecutor alleged that co-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 favour in their tax assessment related matters.
He said 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 alleged 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 said 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.
The court, after hearing the submissions, dismissed the bail plea observing that there was alleged recovery of bribe from the accused.

Regarding his health condition, the court said, "As per report of the senior medical officer, it is clear that the applicant has been getting regular treatment in the jail dispensary as well as in other government hospitals".