SEEPZ bribery case: Court calls arrest illegal, orders release of two IRS officers arrested by CBI
When the accused were produced in court on Wednesday, their lawyers Rahul Agarwal and Jasmin Purani, submitted that they were illegally detained from 10am at the SEEPZ office and arrested only at 12.35am on Wednesday.
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SEEPZ (Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone) is a special economic zone in Andheri, with over 400 units inside, established with a view to promote exports of goods and services.
Six persons, including two IRS officers arrested by the CBI on allegations of corruption at the special economic zone at SEEPZ, were ordered to be released by a special court which said that their arrests were illegal as they were detained for over 24 hours.
When the accused were produced in court on Wednesday, their lawyers Rahul Agarwal and Jasmin Purani, submitted that they were illegally detained from 10am at the SEEPZ office and arrested only at 12.35am on Wednesday.
The court agreed with the contention of the accused that they were detained from 10am on December 17 but were produced before court only at 4pm on Wednesday, not within 24 hours as required by law.
The CBI filed an FIR on Tuesday on charges including corruption against six persons. These were IRS officers CPS Chauhan, the joint development commissioner at SEEPZ, Andheri and Dr Prasad Varawantkar, deputy development commissioner. Others arrested include assistant development commissioners Manish Kumar and three other officials–Ravindra Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar Meena and Rajesh Kumar.
SEEPZ (Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone) is a special economic zone in Andheri, with over 400 units inside, established with a view to promote exports of goods and services.
The FIR claimed that CBI received information that Chauhan and others were colluding with those functioning out of SEEPZ and other related parties in matters related to space allotment, disposal of imported goods not utilized in manufacturing, sale of duty-free imported goods without paying duty, engagement of security persons ans daily wagers, and favoring civil contractors in lieu of monetary consideration.
The CBI FIR also alleged that Chauhan was getting an extension by paying ‘hefty bribes’ to higher-ups. It alleges that two private persons collect money on behalf of Chauhan and others.
The CBI told the court that a joint surprise check was done at SEEPZ on Tuesday and a private person, Manoj Joglekar, named in the FIR as an accused was, apprehended and admitted collecting bribes and brought one large and three small bags, containing money. The CBI said that Joglekar claimed a total of Rs 60 lakh collected as bribes were with him. The CBI also told the court that 22 envelopes with different names of companies or code words, allegedly those identifying the accused, were also found.
The CBI also told the court that a search at Chauhan’s property led them to 27 immovable property documents, luxury cars and watches. The CBI sought their custody for further probe into the bribe money. The court however rejected the remand request and directed the release of the accused on furnishing a bond of Rs 15,000. It also directed the accused to cooperate with the probe.
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