The role of the member, who was not named as accused in the FIR was being probed as he was allegedly the final authority who gave nod for allowing the consignment to be sent to Nepal, CBI sources said.
The case relates to nearly 16,000 tonnes of fertilisers imported by a Kolkata-based firm Universal Agency. The company wanted to take this consignment to Nepal using rail network through Jogbani in Bihar instead of road route through Raxaul border check post, they said.
This would have saved nearly Rs 1.6 crore for the company at the rate of Rs 1,000 per tonne of the material, they said.
The sources said when the company approached Customs officials in Kolkata for the permission they allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh as bribe for facilitating the permission from their seniors based here.
CBI sources said the probe indicated the then CBEC member was the final authority who signed the permission which led to suspicion and searches at his residential premises this week here and in Jalandhar.
The agency would record his statement about the case and find out why permission for such a change in transport mode was given to the company, they said.
More From This Section
CBI had yesterday arrested a deputy director of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence P Vijayakumar and Customs Superintendent Nand Kumar Rai along with promoter of Universal Agency Rajesh Sarda in connection with the case.
The sources claimed that CBI had carried out searches in and recovered Rs 35 lakh in cash from the residence of Rai and other incriminating documents from the accused.