Three persons were arrested by Surat Police after executing a bogus raid on a textile store and extorted 12 lakh rupees from a businessman. One of the three of them was a Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) superintendent, while the other two were imposters. The incident occurred on March 30, 2023.
One of the pretenders worked as a departmental driver on contract. The phoney raid was carried out on purpose by the driver, a second person, and a CGST representative in order to demand money. The businessmen filed the case after learning that he had been defrauded by the accused people.
The accused people entered the shop with a file having a CGST department symbol. The official conducted the fake raid by threatening the businessman stating he has crores of turnover and failed to pay taxes on it.
The accused-persons informed the businessman that he has to pay Rs. 80 Lakhs as tax. However, to settle it unofficially, the official and impersonators demanded to pay Rs. 45 Lakhs. Due to the inability to pay the said amount, the accused was finally fixed to Rs. 15 Lakhs.
The businessmen paid Rs. 7 Lakhs from his shop and the remaining Rs. 5 lakhs was given from his house. The accused-persons took the victim to his home inorder to get the amount.
The policeman said that extortion-related sections of the Indian Criminal Code were originally used to register the offence. Additionally, because a government official was arrested, additional offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act will be added.
The CGST officials have conducted fictitious raids before in India. Three Maharashtra GST employees were recently dismissed via newspaper advertisement after conducting a bogus raid and looting Rs. 11 lakhs from a businessman.
As these officials aren’t doing their duties as public servants with commitment and loyalty, the government must take an aggressive stance against them. The general populace seldom anticipates such avaricious behaviour from public servants.
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