The Hindu : Rich haul in CBI drive

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 13, 2002

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Rich haul in CBI drive

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 12. As the Central Bureau of Investigation today began winding up its two-day long nationwide anti-corruption drive — the second in three months — the agency arrested a Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Jaipur, for allegedly amassing assets beyond known sources of income.

The CBI spokesman said the searches were conducted at 83 places on the premises of corrupt Government officials. The entire operation yielded huge amounts and information about investment and assets of corrupt public servants in various departments and undertakings of the Central Government.

The CBI arrested Ram Avatar Varma, an Indian Revenue Service officer of the 1985 batch, posted as Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Jaipur. The agency claimed to have seized Rs. 22 lakhs in cash from his locker. He was allegedly in possession of four luxury cars, a house each in Jaipur and Ahmedabad and a luxurious farmhouse on the Jaipur-Sikar Road fitted with all modern gadgets and facilities.

The searches at the residence and other premises of the Commissioner, Income Tax, Hyderabad, yielded Rs. 1.5 crores in cash, fixed deposit receipts worth Rs. 57 lakhs, jewellery weighing 3.7 kg, including four gold biscuits and a diamond necklace, the CBI said.

Among those whose premises were raided by the CBI were the chairman, Oil Selection Board, Chandigarh, the general manager, the manager and the assistant general manager of Vizag Steel Plant, the manager, Punjab National Bank, Ahmedabad, the SDO, Telecom, Guwahati, the managers of some insurance companies and officials of Oil India Limited, Duliajan, Assam.

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