CBI arrest Tirupati GST officials for demanding Rs 3.2 lakh bribe

Hyderabad: The sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested the CGST Inspector of Tirupati GST Commissionerate along with the representative of a private firm for demanding and accepting Rs 3.2 lakh as a bribe.

The CBI registered a case on December 17 against four accused including Assistant Commissioner, Superintendent and Inspector, all from the office of Commissioner of Central Tax, Tirupati GST Commissionerate, Tirupati. The other accused include a representative of a Chittoor-based private firm and unknown public and private persons, based on the allegations of demanding a bribe for extending undue favours to the company and other parties.

It was alleged that public servants, in connivance with each other, were inspecting the premises of various establishments, firms, companies etc. and collecting various documents.

Subsequently, they were allegedly calling the owners of the firms to attend the CGST office, in Tirupati, and demanding illegal payment to show undue favour to them.

On November 5, the accused Inspector visited the premises of the firm with other officials and collected documents, about which he informed the accused Assistant Commissioner and accused Superintendent.

Further, the accused Inspector demanded Rs 10 lakh from the accused representative of a Chittoor-based private firm to settle the matter of the said firm allegedly found to be working from the premises of another firm.

The CBI laid a trap and the Inspector and the private firm’s representative were intercepted on Tuesday while they were taking the bribe and the bribe amount of Rs 3.2 lakh was recovered from the said Inspector. The Inspector and the other accused have been arrested.

They will be produced before a Special Judge for CBI Cases in Kurnool on December 18. Searches are being conducted in Tirupati and Kadapa at the residential and office premises of the accused and certain incriminating documents have been recovered so far.