Navi Mumbai ACB Nabs GST Officer and Aide in Rs 9,000 Bribery Sting
In a significant crackdown on corruption, the Navi Mumbai Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) team has apprehended a tax officer from the State GST department and a woman he had illegally employed, after they were caught red-handed accepting a collective bribe of Rs 9,000. The incident unfolded at the Konkan Bhawan building in CBD-Belapur, where the officer was stationed.
Details of the Bribery Trap
The ACB laid a meticulous trap at the GST department's office on the fourth floor on Monday evening around 6:30 PM. According to Dharmaraj Sonake, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy SP) with the ACB, the woman was first caught accepting Rs 2,000 from the complainant, a software development professional. Subsequently, the tax officer was apprehended in his office cabin while taking Rs 7,000.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Amit Giri (45), a Class-2 tax officer, and his aide Vaishali Kadam (39). Dy SP Sonake elaborated that Giri had sent a digitally signed show-cause notice to the complainant via email on March 10, concerning the Professional Tax Enrollment Certificate (PTEC) and Professional Tax Registration Certificate (PTRC). The notice falsely claimed the complainant was liable for penalties due to non-payment of GST, thereby obstructing the issuance of the certificates.
Illegal Employment and Extortion Scheme
Investigations revealed that Giri had privately employed Kadam at the government office, an act that is strictly prohibited. When the complainant visited Giri's office to resolve the issue, he was directed to meet Kadam. She verified the documents and informed him that he needed to pay a total of Rs 23,900. Out of this amount, Rs 13,900 would be officially receipted, while the remaining Rs 10,000 was to be handed over to Giri to "close his file."
The ACB verified the complaint on April 2 in the presence of government witnesses, confirming the allegations. Following this, a trap was set on April 6, leading to the dramatic arrest of both Giri and Kadam as they accepted the bribe money.
Broader Implications and ACB's Vigilance
This case highlights ongoing issues of corruption within tax administration and the misuse of official positions for personal gain. The ACB's swift action underscores their commitment to rooting out such malpractices, particularly those targeting professionals and businesses. The arrest serves as a stern warning to other officials engaged in similar illicit activities, emphasizing that such behavior will not be tolerated.
The Navi Mumbai ACB continues to investigate the matter further to uncover any additional irregularities or accomplices involved in this scheme.
