Two GST Officers Caught Red-Handed While Accepting Rs 10 Lakh Bribe 

Two officials of the Central GST Department have been arrested in Nadiad, Gujarat, on charges of demanding a bribe. This action was taken by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) by setting a trap.

How did the matter begin?

A transporter’s truck full of goods was stopped by the Central GST officials. This truck was brought to the GST office in Nadiad for investigation. After this, when the transporter asked to release his vehicle, the officials pointed out some “deficiencies” in the documents. Meanwhile, the accused officers allegedly demanded Rs 55 lakh in exchange for releasing the truck and saving it from further action. It is alleged that he also said that the first installment of Rs 10 lakh will have to be paid immediately; only then will the further process be started.

Complaint and trap to ACB

Instead of paying a bribe, the transporter directly reached the ACB helpline 1064 and lodged a complaint. After this, the Gandhinagar ACB unit planned and prepared the trap. Arrested red-handed in the office itself, when the accused officers were interviewed under the supervision of the ACB team, they reiterated and confirmed the demand for a bribe.

As soon as the first installment of Rs 10 lakh was taken, the ACB team raided the spot and arrested both the officers. This action took place inside the Central GST Bhawan located in Nadiad. The arrested officers have been identified as Amarnath Govardhanram Saroj (Superintendent, Class-2) and Subodh Subhash Chauhan (Inspector, Class-2).

A case has been registered against both officers under the Prevention of Corruption Act. ACB has also recovered the entire bribe amount of Rs 10 lakh from the spot. ACB is also trying to find out whether this is a case of just two officers or whether some large-scale network or gang is also involved in it, which makes such extortions from transporters.