DA case: Official, son convicted sentenced

Delivering the verdict, the Judge sentenced the customs official Balaji Rao to undergo RI for two years and his son Arthanarishwar Rao for one year. The Judge also imposed a total fine of Rs 75,000 on Balaji Rao. 

The anti-corruption branch of CBI, Chennai registered and investigated a case M Balaji Rao (A-1), Assistant commissioner of customs and his son Arthanarishwar Rao (A-2) on the allegations that the formed during the check period  January one, 2002 to October 12, 2007, while working as Superintendent of Central Excise in Mettur-I Range, ICD, Tirupur, and as Assistant Commisisoner of Central Excise at Salem Headquarters, Coonoor Division, and at Customs House, Chennai, on abetment of his son acquired assets in his name, in the name of his son and their family members disproportionate to known sources of income.

Investigation established that during the check period, the assets acquired was to the tune of Rs.59,23,424 as against known sources of income of Rs.56,80,843 and incurred expenditure of Rs.24,12,317. The disproportionate assets held by the accused persons was calculated to Rs 26.5 lakh for which they could not satisfactorily account for. 

After completion of investigation, the chargesheet was filed by CBI against the accused under secs 109 of IPC, and sec 13(2) r/w 13(1) (e) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.