GST officer held for taking Rs.45k bribe to settle tax dues in Noida

The UP vigilance establishment on Monday arrested Satendra Bahadur Singh, administrative officer, GST office, Gautam Budh Nagar, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs.45,000 in connection with a pending tax assessment.

The complainant owns a computer repair firm M/s Ramatech in Salarpur village, Noida. On April 29, the complainant received a phone call from a person identifying himself as Bhudev, who claimed that the firm’s GST assessments for 2016-17 and 2017-18 were not completed and that Rs.4.55 lakh as due.

Bhudev said that legal proceedings would be initiated unless the dues were cleared. Bhudev then introduced the complainant to Satendra. During a meeting con May 13, Singh allegedly offered to close the matter without legal legal act in exchange for a bribe of Rs.50,000.

After negotiation, Singh reportedly demanded Rs.45,000 and refused to lower the amount, warning that otherwise, the full sum would have to be paid.

The complainant, unwilling to pay the bribe, approached the vigilance department . Acting on the complaint, the vigilance team laid a trap and arrested Satendra red-handed on May 19 while accepting RS.45000.

The UP vigilance establishment has urged citizens to report any bribery demands by public servants – gazetted or non-gazetted on its anit-corruption belpline: on it anti-corruption helpline: 9454401866.

Source: The Times of India