A trap set by the Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau in Rajkot led to the apprehension of a Central GST superintendent and a tax consultant for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 20 lakh. The superintendent, Mukesh Kumar, and the consultant, Akash Kaloliya, were nabbed during a planned operation near the city’s ST bus station. The case stemmed from a complaint filed against a citizen facing GST-related issues at the CGST office.
The ACB revealed that the superintendent had initially demanded Rs 25 lakh to resolve the matter without escalating it. Eventually, the sum was negotiated down to Rs 20 lakh, to be paid through the consultant. Upon the complainant’s refusal to pay, the ACB was alerted, prompting the enforcement of a trap. During the operation, Kaloliya, acting on behalf of the superintendent, engaged in a conversation with the complainant and accepted the bribe amount.
Both individuals were caught in the act, and the entire sum was recovered by the authorities. A case has been registered, and further investigations are ongoing to ascertain any broader connections. This arrest follows a series of recent anti-corruption measures within the tax administration sector, emphasizing the ACB’s commitment to combatting such malpractices.
In recent instances, the ACB had also arrested two Central GST officials in Nadiad for allegedly soliciting a bribe of Rs 55 lakh and apprehended a CGST officer in Rajkot earlier for accepting a Rs 5,000 bribe. These operations are typically initiated based on citizen complaints, with traps laid to substantiate the allegations before arrests are executed. The ACB encourages the public to report bribery cases, assuring confidentiality and swift action on complaints.
