CBI arrests CGST Superintendent, Inspector in bribery case

New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Superintendent and an Inspector from the Central Goods & Services Tax (CGST) office in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 8,000 from a complainant.

A case was registered by the CBI under Section 61(2) of the Bhartiya Nayaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, read with Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in July 2018).

The complaint alleged that the accused demanded a bribe of Rs 12,000 through the complainant’s friend for processing and approving the CGST registration number of his firm. The accused threatened to reject the CGST registration if the complainant did not comply.

During the complainant’s visit to the CGST office, the accused reduced the bribe amount to Rs 8,000 and insisted the complainant visit their office in Solan with the money. The CBI laid a trap, and the Inspector was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe in a criminal conspiracy with the Superintendent.

Searches were conducted at the official and residential premises of the accused in Solan (HP), Mohali (Punjab), and Una District (HP). Incriminating documents and articles were recovered during the searches.

Both accused were arrested and presented before the Competent Court in Shimla (HP).

The arrested accused have been identified as Akshay Dhiman, Inspector, Central Goods & Services Tax (CGST), Solan office, HP and George Kumar, Tax Assistant (later identified as Superintendent), Central Goods & Services Tax (CGST), Solan office, HP.