Customs appraising officer booked for graft

The CBI noted that this was the one-day collection that the appraiser, V Sangamithra, received as bribe for clearing the import and export papers. The officers booked V Sangamithra, working as appraiser at Calyx container terminal on GNT Road, Puzhal junction, along with two Customs house agents.

The officers carried out a surprise check from 7.45 pm to 11.45 pm. During the searches in Sangamithra’s cabin, the sleuths recovered unaccounted money to the tune of Rs 84,650 in different denominations. Another Rs 3,100 was seized from her handbag.

“When she was asked about the seized amount, her face turned pale,” the FIR said. Later, the CBI also recovered one loose sheet of paper from Customs house agent N Murugan. It contained hand-written details of illegal gratification received from various Customs house agents. The amount varied from Rs 100 to Rs 14,400, as per the seized sheet.

Murugan later confessed that CHAs used to pay the amount as bribe to Sangamithra for clearing consignment pertaining to export and import. “As per instruction from her, Murugan had noted the money received from 19 CHAs given to release their consignments. Murugan also told the sleuths that he maintained details of collection of bribe amounts for Sangamithra. The part of collection will be given to Murugan and R Darwin, another CHA. Both Murugan and Darwin figure in the CBI FIR, in which case has been booked under sections of criminal conspiracy, public servant taking undue advantage besides provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.