CBI arrests three CGST officials for demanding bribe from Madurai transport businessman

CHENNAI/MADURAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested three central GST officials on charges of demanding Rs 5 lakh as a bribe from a Madurai-based transport businessman.
The officials -- deputy commissioner M Saravanakumar and superintendents Ashok and Rajbir Singh Rana -- were remanded in judicial custody by a CBI court till Dec 31. The three officials along with CGST inspector Sameer were booked under Section 61(2) of the BNS for criminal conspiracy and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, based on a complaint by V Karthik.
In his complaint to the anti-corruption branch of the Madurai CBI office dated Dec 2, Karthik stated that Ashok and Rajbir Singh Rana visited his house on Oct 24, claiming that a complaint had been received at the CGST Chennai office about tax evasion committed by him to the tune of Rs 2 crore.
Karthik appeared before Saravanakumar on Nov 12 as summoned. He was allegedly told him that he should pay Rs 1.5 crore as a penalty or Rs 20 lakh as a bribe to them to regularise his GST account.
On Nov 25, Karthik appeared again before the GST officials with his auditor, but the officials insisted on giving them Rs 10 lakh. Later, they lowered their demand to Rs 5 lakh. However, after the officials started pressuring him to give them Rs 5 lakh, Karthik filed a complaint with the CBI.
A preliminary inquiry by CBI officers confirmed the offence prima facie as Karthik recorded the telephonic conversation he had with Ashok Kumar. The CBI wrote to the state home secretary for consent and registered a case against all four officials.