CBIC suspends Bengaluru CGST officials arrested for extortion

The CBIC on Friday said it has suspended some CGST officials in Bengaluru who have been arrested by the city police for alleged extortion charges. On September 11, Bengaluru City Crime Branch arrested four Central GST officials based on a complaint of kidnapping and extortion filed by a businessman at Byappanahalli police station of Bengaluru East division.The arrested include a superintendent rank officer apart from inspector and senior intelligence officer rank staffers of the GST.It further said that the CBIC is in touch with police authorities who got the remand of these officers arrested by them. "Based on the outcome of the investigation in the matter, further action will be taken. CBIC follows a zero-tolerance policy in cases of official misconduct in its endeavour to establish a transparent and trade-friendly tax administration," the CBIC added.

As per media reports, it has been reported that some CGST officials in Bengaluru have resorted to alleged extortion in violation of the laws of the land. The officers involved have been immediately suspended. CBIC is in touch with police authorities who got the remand of these…

— CBIC (@cbic_india) September 13, 2024

Separately, the Enforcement Directorate has also registered a money laundering case against four arrested Goods and Services Tax (GST) officials who allegedly extorted Rs 1.5 crore from the businessman here by impersonating as ED sleuths, official sources had said on Wednesday.Sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) have been pressed against the accused taking cognisance of the FIR filed by the Bengaluru City Crime Branch against them,they said.
Four officials of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) department were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting and extorting Rs 1.5 crore cash from a businessman in Bengaluru. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) officers on Wednesday announced the arrests of Abhishek, Superintendent of Central Tax, south commissionerate, Bengaluru zone, Manoj Saini and Nagesh Babu, senior intelligence officers of Bengaluru zone, and Sonali Sahay, intelligence officer of Bengaluru.All of them belong to the Director General of GST intelligence, Bengaluru zonal unit (Central GST).
In a complaint filed by Keshav Tak, who runs Mexo Solutions Private Limited in Jeevan Bhimanagar, he alleged that he was confined and extorted by the GST officials between August 30 and September 1.Later, he filed a police complaint with the Byappanahalli police and during the investigation, it was revealed that the officials indeed worked with the GST but the raid was conducted without any permission. In fact, the complainants were held illegally for two days.

(State Correspondent)