New Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS): The CBI on Wednesday filed a first information report (FIR) against a commissioner of customs and others for allegedly causing a loss of Rs.74.61 crore to the exchequer.

The probe agency registered the case against Inland Container Depot (ICD) Tughlakabad commissioner of customs Atul Dikshit, then ICD Tughlakabad deputy commissioner Nalin Kumar and Delhi-based businessman Sahdev Gupta.

"The FIR was registered on the allegation of showing favour to private companies in the release of duty drawback from ICD Tughlakabad and ICD Patparganj," said a CBI official.

According to the official, the public servants deliberately did not suspend the duty drawback of Gupta's firms immediately and ensured that the amounts claimed by his firms as duty drawback are transferred to their bank accounts.

"The act of both the public servants allegedly resulted into wrongful revenue loss of Rs.74.61 crore to the government and corresponding gain to the private party," the official said.

Earlier in the day, a team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths conducted searches at nine places in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, including the office and residence of the commissioner and others.

"We have recovered a large number of incriminating documents during the raid," said a CBI official.

Besides loss to the exchequer, there are also allegations of cheating and criminal conspiracy against the officials, CBI sources added.