A Deputy Commissioner in the Customs Department has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation along with the owner and the promoter of two Delhi-based companies for allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs.5 lakh to clear a shipment of seized tyres.

Subsequent searches led to the seizure of one-kg gold brick and documents showing investments over Rs.1 crore, besides cash and other valuables.

Those arrested by the CBI have been identified as Shashi Kant, the Deputy Commissioner of Customs in Gautam Budha Nagar of Uttar Pradesh; Satish Gupta, the alleged middleman and owner of Sharp Travels India Private Limited; and Narendra Kumar Chug, the promoter of Aban Exim Private Limited.

The CBI has booked the accused under Section 120-B (conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

“It is alleged that for the release of a seized shipment comprising tyres, belonging to the East of Kailash-based company Aban Exim, from the Customs Department at Inland Container Depot in Dadri Mr. Chug contacted Satish Gupta, who owns Sharp Travels in Bhikaji Cama Place here. The middleman approached the Deputy Commissioner to get the seized consignment cleared. The officer in turn allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs.5 lakh,” said a CBI spokesperson.

The agency alleges that Mr. Chug paid the bribe to the Customs officer at his Noida residence. “The money has been recovered and seized,” said the officer.

Searches were conducted at six locations in Delhi and neighbouring cities.

These led to seizure of Rs.14.75 lakh in cash, a gold brick, jewellery and documents pertaining to investments worth over Rs.1 crore from the residence of the Deputy Commissioner, the CBI official added.