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Top officers under Intelligence Bureau's lens over Diwali 'gifts'

The 'gifts' are either in form of gold, luxury cars and houses in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune or in the form of shares in top companies, the source added.

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Diwali gifts to officers in investigating agencies have come under lens of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). IB sleuths are busy checking records of senior officers attached to Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, Department of Revenue Intelligence and Customs, and Central Excise and Income Tax after being tipped off that some of them are being bribed in the form of gifts by people who have cases of financial frauds against them. "The officers are accepting gifts in the name of their relatives/family members from the businessmen/accused," said a source.

The 'gifts' are either in form of gold, luxury cars and houses in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune or in the form of shares in top companies, the source added.

"Two senior officers are under scanner for allegedly demanding luxury cars in the name of their distant relatives based in Karnataka and Odisha," said the source adding that the financial records of a senior officer, attached to a financial investigating agency, and his family members are being scrutinised over apprehension of receiving a flat in Gurugram as 'gift'.

The Centre has a list of 14 officers of Customs, Central Excise and Income Tax who have been approached by top business houses asking them about the kind of 'gift' they want. The sleuths have also identified an officer who demanded golden combs for his wife from a business house.

At least six officers from CBI and ED are on the radar as they have been approached by some accused this festive season.

The IB sleuths have also been directed to check on the personal staff of senior officers. "The record of special officers/personal assistants of the Public Servants of Gazetted status of doubtful integrity must be checked and verified for their inappropriate conduct," the source said citing the directions they received for this festive season. They, however, have been asked to stay away from residences of these officers while keeping an eye on them.

According to the central government guidelines, if gift are taken from the accused, the officer concerned will be immediately booked under Prevention of Corruption Act.

As per the guidelines, bureaucrats can accept gifts up to Rs25,000 from relatives and personal friends on occasions such as weddings without reporting the same to the government. But gifts from other contacts may be received without government sanction as long as their value does not exceed Rs5,000.

Both CBI and ED stated that they "strictly follow the guidelines issued by the central government", and refused to comment over the issue.

Hawk-eyed govt

The Centre has a list of 14 officers of Customs, Central Excise and Income Tax who have been approached by top business houses asking them about the kind of ‘gift’ they want 

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