Court rejects discharge application of IRS Suresh Meena in 2018 bribe case
Updated: Jan 26th, 2025
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A special Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court has rejected the discharge application of an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax (ACIT) Suresh Chand Meena in a seven-year-old case of bribery.
Based on the complaint filed by Ghulam Hussain Mohammed Rashid Qureshi against Meena under the Prevention of Corruption Act, a trap was planned by ACB on December 16, 2018.
At that time, Namita Singhania, a receiver of the bribe on behalf of Meena was nabbed.
In this case, Special Public Prosecutor R J Gogda, on behalf of the ACB, drew the court's attention to the fact that the accused is a high-ranking government official and has committed a serious offence by illegally demanding and accepting a bribe from the complainant, abusing his position and authority.
The investigation agency has also recorded the conversation between the complainant and the accused regarding the demand for a bribe. This conversation also proves the fact that the accused demanded a bribe.
Prima facie evidence suggests that a serious case has been established against the accused, providing sufficient grounds for filing a charge sheet and proceeding with a trial.
This evidence has also been presented in the court records by the prosecution. Accepting the arguments of the ACB, the special ACB court rejected the discharge application of the then Assistant Income Tax Commissioner Suresh Chand Meena.
Bribery case
In December 2018, IRS officer Meena, junior Income Tax personnel Sunil Patni, and chartered accountants Sumeet Singhania and his wife, Namita Singhania, were charged by the ACB for demanding a ₹20 lakh bribe from a taxpayer.
The bribe was solicited to prevent further scrutiny of the taxpayer’s account books following a notice. After negotiations, they agreed to and accepted ₹8 lakh in exchange for this unlawful favour.
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