DVAC Cracks Down on Corruption with Arrest of Tax Official and Husband in Coimbatore
In a significant anti-corruption operation, officials from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Monday arrested an assistant commissioner of the commercial tax department and her husband for allegedly accepting a bribe in Coimbatore. The incident highlights ongoing efforts to combat graft in government departments.
Details of the Bribery Case
The case originated when Abinesh, a 28-year-old accountant at a real estate firm in the city, applied for an input tax credit with the commercial tax department. K Maheswari, 48, the assistant commissioner of the Singanallur division, reportedly demanded Rs 1 lakh to process his application. After negotiations, she reduced the demand to Rs 60,000, prompting Abinesh to file a formal complaint with the DVAC on Saturday.
Sting Operation and Arrests
Acting swiftly on the complaint, DVAC officials laid a trap by providing Abinesh with chemically laced currency notes. On Monday, Abinesh handed over the cash to Maheswari's husband, Dhanasekaran, as part of the planned operation. DVAC officials then arrested Dhanasekaran red-handed while he was accepting the bribe money.
Following the arrest, both Maheswari and Dhanasekaran were taken to the Commercial Tax office located on Dr Balasundaram Road for further enquiry. The couple was formally arrested after a case was registered against them, marking a decisive step in the investigation.
Implications and Broader Context
This arrest underscores the vigilance authorities' commitment to rooting out corruption in tax administration and other public services. It serves as a warning to officials engaging in unethical practices and reinforces the importance of transparency and accountability in government operations. The use of advanced techniques like chemically treated notes demonstrates the DVAC's proactive approach in gathering evidence for such cases.
