New Delhi/Dhanbad, May 20 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on Wednesday, arrested a superintendent and an inspector of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) office in Giridih, Jharkhand, in a bribery case.

The arrests were made following a trap laid by the CBI team after a formal complaint was received against the two officials.

According to the complaint, the CGST superintendent and inspector had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 90,000 from a complainant to resolve an Input Tax Credit (ITC) mismatch issue related to his GST return, a CBI press note said.

The officials reportedly threatened the complainant that his GST number would be blocked if he failed to pay the demanded amount.

Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap and caught both accused officers red-handed while they were accepting Rs 50,000 as the first instalment of the bribe from the complainant, the investigation agency said.

Following the arrests, the CBI conducted searches of the accused persons’ offices and residential premises to gather further evidence.

The officials have been identified as public servants working in the CGST department in Giridih.

The arrested officers will be produced before the competent court in Dhanbad later on Wednesday.

The CBI has registered a case under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and is continuing its investigation to determine if other officials or persons were involved in the alleged corrupt practices.

This case highlights the Central Bureau of Investigation’s ongoing crackdown on corruption in tax administration departments.

Bribery in GST-related matters has been a serious concern, as it affects honest taxpayers and undermines the transparency goals of the Goods and Services Tax regime.

The development is likely to send a strong message to government officials indulging in corrupt practices.

The CBI’s prompt action based on a citizen’s complaint also demonstrates the effectiveness of its anti-corruption mechanisms in protecting taxpayers from harassment and extortion.

Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.

The agency is examining digital records, call details, and other documents seized during the searches to uncover the full extent of the irregularities.

–IANS

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