After an almost four-year delay, the Punjab excise and taxation department has, at last, given the green light to the Vigilance Bureau ( VB ) to prosecute Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner ( AETC ).
The AETC was apprehended on January 15, 2020, following the arrest of his driver for accepting a bribe of Rs. 5 lakh on his behalf at the Shambhu barrier in the excise and taxation department’s mobile wing in Chandigarh.
The charges against the officer are substantial, alleging his involvement in demanding a bribe amounting to ₹50 lakh from a transporter. The VB intervened, arresting the AETC’s driver while he accepted the initial instalment of ₹5 lakh. Subsequent investigations uncovered that Bhandari had failed to obtain official permission for a raid conducted on M/s Narang Carrying Corp ( Ludhiana ) on September 12, 2018, and had maintained records of the firm for extortion purposes.
The extended delay in granting prosecution approval was ascribed to procedural complexities and an internal inquiry initiated by the excise department. The complainant, Daljit Singh Tinku, owner of M/s Narang Carrying Corp ( Ludhiana ), provided the VB with audio recordings allegedly capturing Bhandari demanding a bribe to expedite an investigation linked to his firm.
In November of the preceding year, Financial Commissioner Taxation Vikas Pratap eventually authorized the prosecution. However, the formal communication conveying this decision reached the VB in early January. The financial commissioner, in his approval, asserted, “After going through the report of voice samples, which have duly matched, and other material on record, I am of the opinion that prima facie a case has been made against the accused. Thus, the permission is granted under section 19-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act to prosecute the AETC,” as reported by Hindustan Times.
Support our journalism by subscribing to Taxscan premium. Follow us on Telegram for quick updates
