CBI official peddles influence, arrested

Chennai: A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official was arrested at Chennai airport on Sunday, for having attempted to illegally facilitate the green channel passage of two passengers coming from the U.S.
K A A Salam, a DSP with CBI's anti-corruption bureau in Nagpur, was nabbed by a team of officials from Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the CBI, after he spoke to customs officials to allow two passengers -- Vinod Kumar, Vatsa Varadhan -- to get out of the customs hall without paying any duty. The passengers, who arrived by Jet Airways Brussels-Chennai flight, were carrying dutiable goods.
The two passengers as well as two others -- Sadique and Girish -- who accompanied Salam were arrested by the DRI and CBI teams. All the electronics goods were also seized from the duo.
"Salam tried to misuse his position to facilitate the passengers to come through green channel. He is not supposed to do this. The officer was found facilitating the passengers when a surprise check was conducted," said Ashok Kumar, zonal director, CBI.
It is not clear whether corruption is involved, but DRI and CBI suspect that some customs officials may also have been involved in this. "An investigation is on to find out the role of customs officials," he added. Officials also wondered as to why Salam should come to Chennai to facilitate the passengers.
14/02/11 Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Feb 2011