KOCHI: The Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate on Wednesday allowed the CBI to turn the accused an approver in the case against two officers of Income Tax department for demanding bribe from a businessman in Thrissur. Chartered Accountant K J Tommy of Kuzhikattumalayil, Thrissur, an accused in the case, was made approver.
The case was that Jose Kunjippalu, assistant commissioner of Income Tax, Aaykar Bhavan, Thrissur, allegedly demanded bribe from a businessman. The bribe was demanded through the income tax officer K J Tommy. The CBI had arrested Jose Kunjippalu and Vincent Joseph, assistant IT commissioners, in March this year. Both are presently out on bail.
The complainant of the case approached CBI stating that he was regularly paying income tax on his business transactions. The IT authorities had issued a notice to his firm in 2012. A few months later, the auditor informed the complainant that the books were scrutinised by the assistant commissioner of Income Tax, Thrissur, and that he has been asked by the commissioner to pay `50 lakh as penalty under the Income Tax Act and Rules. Jose Kunjippalu allegedly demanded `10 lakh as a bribe to settle the matter and to reduce the penalty to `1 lakh. Following this, CBI officials laid a trap and arrested the officer on charges of corruption.