In fully virtual GST system, tax babus take real bribes
The arrest of nine people, including a Goods and Services Tax (GST) Commissioner, for taking bribes has raised doubts about the government’s claim that rolling out of GST would put a check on rampant corruption in the tax collection procedure by reducing the human interface. All the nine persons were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday.
The arrested persons include GST Commissioner Sansar Chand, a 1986 batch IRS officer who was posted at Kanpur. According to a CBI official, the other eight arrested persons include the GST commissioner’s three sub-ordinates including two superintendents and one office staff member and five other private persons on the charges of graft.
“The GST officers were allegedly taking the bribe from firms as a “protection money for the omission of action by the department”. The bribe was transferred systematically through hawala channels which was periodically (monthly or quarterly) paid to the officers,” the CBI official said.
The CBI in its FIR has accused Chand of leading a systematic and organised collection of illegal gratification in lieu of various official acts in connection with matters pertaining to his jurisdiction. “The GST Commissioner was in habit of taking periodic updates from his Superintendents Ajay Srivastava, Aman Shah and RS Chandel in regards to illegal gratification from various private parties,” the CBI’S FIR read.
The CBI has also identified the companies Shishu Soap and Chemicals Private Ltd, SIR Pan Masala and Rimjhim Ispat Ltd, which paid illegal gratification to the GST officers. The CBI had lodged the FIR under Section 120 (b) of the IPC and Sections 7, 11, 12 of PC Act on Friday and after laying a trap apprehended the accused who had received Rs 1.5 lakh bribe on behalf of the Commissioner.
The CBI recovered about Rs 58 lakh cash after raiding the premises of accused persons, including public servants, at Kanpur and Delhi. Several incriminating documents, including diaries, pen drives and property papers worth of crores have also been recovered from their possession.