Bengaluru GST official caught taking Rs 800 bribe: What is the punishment; how and where to file a complaint | Today’s news
The Central GST Superintendent was caught on camera allegedly receiving ₹800000000 in bribes, through an intermediary, during a trap operation conducted by the Bengaluru City Lokayukta.
Lokayukta sleuths caught the officer allegedly accepting a bribe at Kendriya Sadan in Koramangala, Bengaluru, according to a PTI report.
Singh allegedly demanded money to “close a false complaint” filed against complainant Syed Zameer in connection with pending Central GST dues.
Who is accused Mohit Pratap Singh?
The accused in the bribery case has been identified as Mohit Pratap Singh. He is Senior Inspector, Central GST, South Division-4, South Commissionerate.
According to the daily Lokayukta, Singh allegedly demanded a bribe from a trader in connection with pending Central GST dues and to close what was alleged to be a false complaint against him, NDTV reported.
The Lokayukta claimed that the complainant Syed Zameer alleged that Singh demanded ₹8 lakhs for “concluding a false complaint”.
After receiving a complaint, Bengaluru City Lokayukta officials laid a trap and allegedly caught Singh accepting money through a middleman.
Who was the mediator?
According to NDTV, the Lokayukta said that a private individual, Salman Sheikh, allegedly acted as an intermediary in the transaction and was also named as an accused in the case.
Can a GST officer demand a bribe for settling a tax case?
No. Under the law, a GST officer cannot demand a bribe; this is a serious crime under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Soliciting or accepting a bribe is a criminal offence.
Police officers were arrested, charged and prosecuted.
What should you do when a GST official demands a bribe?
Don’t Pay: Paying invites repeated blackmail rather than permanent redress.
Take action: File an FIR with the police. Report central employees to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and state employees to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) or Lokayukta of your state. In case of immediate blackmail, call the emergency number 112. If you do not take any action, you can go to court.
Document everything: Preserve evidence (audio, witnesses, documents); keep copies of notifications, recordings, text messages or call logs.
How can taxpayers report GST corruption in India?
Taxpayers can report corruption, extortion or illegal tax collection in India through official government channels.
Complaints can be filed online through the GST self-service portal, reported through the toll-free helpdesk at 1800-103-4786 or referred directly to the anti-corruption branches and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
Complaint can be lodged through our Grievance Redressal Portal by following this link: https://selfservice.gstsystem.in/ReportIssue.aspx.
What are the penalties for accepting a bribe in India?
Bribery is punishable under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 173 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
A person accused of bribery faces up to one year in prison. In addition to or instead of imprisonment, the offender may be fined. Both the custodial sentence and the fine can be imposed jointly or separately depending on the seriousness of the offense and other circumstances.
According to the law, bribery by handling is only punishable by a fine. “Treatment” means that form of bribery where the satisfaction consists of food, drink, entertainment or provision.
According to the Law Rato website, BNS-173 covers all forms of bribery, including the giving and receiving of bribes, as well as indirect methods such as “handling”.
