CBI Court Sentences Former Excise Official to 4 Years RI in 2015 Bribery Case

New Delhi FEB 27 :- In a significant ruling against public corruption, the CBI Court in Siliguri has convicted and sentenced Achintya Kumar Pramanik, a former Superintendent of Central Excise, to four years of Rigorous Imprisonment (RI). The judgment, delivered on February 26, 2026, concludes a decade-long legal battle stemming from a 2015 bribery investigation. Alongside the prison term, the court has imposed a fine of Rs. 40,000 on the former official, who was previously stationed at the Cooch Behar Division under the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise and Service Tax.

The case dates back to September 14, 2015, when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a formal complaint against Pramanik. He was accused of demanding a bribe of Rs. 1,00,000 from the proprietor of a private firm. Acting swiftly, the CBI laid a strategic trap on September 15, 2015, catching the accused red-handed while he was accepting a bribe installment of Rs. 30,000. The investigative agency successfully recovered the illicit funds from his possession at the scene.

Following a thorough investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet on December 30, 2015. After a comprehensive trial period, the Hon’ble Court found the evidence of the “trap” and the subsequent recovery conclusive, leading to the conviction. This sentencing serves as a stern reminder of the judiciary’s commitment to holding high-ranking officials accountable for malpractice and ensuring transparency within the Indian administrative services.