The Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI ) arrested a CGST Inspector from the Tirupati GST Commissionerate and a representative of a Chittoor-based private firm for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 3.2 lakh.
Background
The case was registered on December 17, 2024, and involves four important accused: the Assistant Commissioner, the Superintendent, and the Inspector from the Tirupati GST Commissionerate along with a representative of a Chittoor-based private firm.
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According to the CBI, the accused public servants inspected the premises of various firms, companies, and establishments, collecting documents under the guise of official duties. They allegedly summoned business owners to the CGST office in Tirupati and demanded illegal payments to resolve issues or provide undue benefits.
The Inspector (accused), accompanied by other officials, visited the premises of the Chittoor-based firm, gathered documents, and subsequently informed his superior officers, the Assistant Commissioner and Superintendent.
The Inspector then demanded Rs. 10 lakh from the firm’s representative to settle the matter, claiming the firm was operating out of another company’s premises.
The Sting Operation
The CBI laid a trap and arrested the Inspector and the firm’s representative during the transaction of Rs. 3.2 lakh. The bribe money was recovered from the Inspector at the office of the Commissioner of Central Tax in Tirupati.
Complete Supreme Court Judgment on GST from 2017 to 2024 with Free E-Book Access, Click here
Following the arrests, the CBI conducted searches at residential and office premises in Tirupati and Kadapa. The searches led to the recovery of incriminating documents that are expected to provide crucial evidence in the case.
Both the Inspector and the private firm’s representative are set to be produced before the Special Judge for CBI Cases in Kurnool on December 18, 2024.
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