CBI Arrests Hyderabad Income Tax Commissioner in ₹70 Lakh Bribery Case
NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD/MUMBAI — In a significant crackdown on high-level corruption, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested Jeevan Lal Lavidiya, Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions), Hyderabad, and four others in a ₹70 lakh bribery case. The arrests followed a trap operation after specific intelligence was received about the illicit transaction.
Lavidiya, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS-IT) officer of the 2004 batch, was arrested along with associates in a coordinated effort across multiple cities, including Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Visakhapatnam. The federal agency has also launched simultaneous search operations at 18 locations, recovering large amounts of cash and evidence.
Key Arrests Made
According to CBI officials, the arrested individuals include:
- Jeevan Lal Lavidiya, Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions), Hyderabad
- Sairam Palisetty, resident of Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh
- Natta Veera Naga Sri Ram Gopal, resident of Visakhapatnam
- Viral Kantilal Mehta, DGM (Taxation), Shapoorji Pallonji Group, Mumbai
- Sajida Majhar Hussain Shah, resident of Chembur, Mumbai
The accused arrested in Mumbai will be produced before the Special CBI Court, while those apprehended in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are being presented before competent courts in their respective jurisdictions.
How the Bribe Was Trapped
The CBI registered a first information report (FIR) on May 9, naming Lavidiya and 14 other individuals and entities. Investigators allege that Lavidiya, who also holds additional charge as Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals Unit-7 and 8) in Hyderabad, was misusing his position to obtain illegal gratification in exchange for favorable rulings in tax appeal cases.
A trap operation was conducted in Mumbai, where a middleman was caught red-handed accepting ₹70 lakh in cash from a private party on behalf of Lavidiya. Following this, coordinated arrests were made across various states.
Widespread Raids Yield Incriminating Evidence
Following the arrests, the CBI conducted searches at 18 different premises across:
- Mumbai
- Hyderabad
- Khammam
- Visakhapatnam
- New Delhi
These raids led to the recovery of ₹69 lakh in unaccounted cash, documents related to unexplained transactions, and digital devices believed to contain key evidence of corruption and money laundering.
“Searches are still underway, and further investigation is in progress,” a CBI spokesperson said in an official statement.
Implications for the Income Tax Department
The arrest of a senior IRS officer has once again brought the spotlight on corruption within the Income Tax Department, particularly in the Appeals and Exemptions divisions, where discretionary powers often go unchecked.
Tax policy experts say this case could prompt stricter scrutiny of tax appeal processes and a broader internal audit across Income Tax offices nationwide.