The Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested two Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) officers and a middleman in a bribery case in Ahmedabad, highlighting yet another instance of corruption within government departments.
The accused individuals have been identified as Mohammad Rizwan Shaikh, a CGST audit superintendent, CGST inspector Kuldip Kushwah, and middleman Bhaumik Soni, according to an ACB release. Shaikh, a Class II officer, had recently issued a notice to the owner of a local bullion trading firm for conducting an audit of their accounts for the period between July 2017 and March 2023.
As part of the audit process, Kushwah, a Class III officer, visited the firm’s office on CG Road in Ahmedabad and asked the owner to appear at the CGST office with all the required documents. After reviewing the submitted papers, the officers allegedly informed the trader that a penalty of ₹35 lakh would be imposed for certain discrepancies in the accounts.
However, instead of following proper legal procedures, the two officers demanded a bribe of ₹1.25 lakh to reduce the penalty amount. Acting on a complaint from the trader, the ACB set a trap at the trader’s office on Wednesday. The middleman, Bhaumik Soni, was caught accepting the bribe in cash on behalf of the two officers, who were subsequently apprehended from different locations, as per the ACB statement.
This case is yet another example of the deep-rooted corruption in government offices, where public servants abuse their power for personal gain. Such incidents not only erode public trust but also create an environment of fear and distrust among businesses forced to navigate corrupt practices in their interactions with officials.
Recently, there has been a worrying surge in the number of arrests of GST and Customs officers across the country, further highlighting the rampant corruption in these critical government departments. The frequency of such incidents raises serious concerns about the integrity and accountability of these institutions, making it clear that urgent reforms and stricter oversight are necessary to address this growing menace.
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