Bribery racket in CGST office busted, IRS officer among 5 arrested

In Uttar Pradesh, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has busted a bribery racket in the office of Central Goods & Services Tax, (CGST) Jhansi during an operation launched on Tuesday and arrested Prabha Bhandari, Deputy Commissioner (IRS-C&IT), Anil Tiwari, Ajay Kumar Sharma, Superintendents, Naresh Gupta Advocate and Raju Mangtani, owner of a Private Company, in a bribery case. The CBI registered the instant case on same day against the Deputy Commissioner (IRS-C&IT 2016); Two Superintendents, all posted at CGST, Jhansi; an Advocate; Owners of private companies and unknown others on the allegation of demand of undue advantage of Rs. 1.5 crore for favouring the private firms in GST evasion matters.

CBI laid a trap and caught two accused Superintendents red-handed while accepting the Bribe amount of Rs. 70 lakh at the behest of the accused Deputy Commissioner, CGST. Both the Superintendents and Deputy Commissioner of CGST; an Advocate and Owner of a Private Company have been arrested. Subsequent searches conducted have led to recovery of approx. Rs. 90 Lakh in cash, several property documents and huge Jewellery/bullion. Searches are still continuing and further investigation continues. Total cash seized so far is approx Rs. 1.60 Crore. Sources indicate the racket involved collusion between tax officials, legal intermediaries, and private entities to manipulate GST proceedings for monetary gains.

(Freelance Journalist)