Gujarat ACB Nabs GST Superintendent and Consultant in Bribery Case
Bribery Arrests in Rajkot
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Rajkot, April 29: The Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has successfully apprehended a Central GST (CGST) superintendent along with a tax consultant for allegedly soliciting a bribe of Rs 20 lakh, as reported by officials on Wednesday.
Mukesh Kumar, aged 43, who serves as a superintendent in CGST Division-1, Range-5 in Rajkot, and Akash Kaloliya, a 33-year-old tax consultant, were detained on April 28 during a coordinated operation at Creative Complex, situated near the ST bus station in the city.
The ACB initiated the case following a complaint from a citizen facing ongoing proceedings at the CGST office regarding alleged GST non-payment and the issuance of fraudulent invoices.
According to investigators, the superintendent initially sought Rs 25 lakh to resolve the issue and prevent the initiation of a significant case.
After negotiations, the amount was reduced to Rs 20 lakh, which was to be facilitated through the consultant. The complainant, unwilling to comply, reported the matter to the ACB, prompting the setup of a trap.
During the operation, Kaloliya, representing the superintendent, reportedly reached out to the complainant, engaged in what officials termed a “purposeful conversation,” and accepted Rs 20 lakh in cash.
Both individuals were caught in the act, and the entire sum was recovered, according to officials.
A formal case has been filed, and further investigations are ongoing to explore any broader connections.
This arrest is part of a recent crackdown on corruption within tax administration.
Earlier this month, the ACB detained two Central GST officials in Nadiad for allegedly demanding Rs 55 lakh to release a confiscated transport vehicle, catching them while they accepted Rs 10 lakh during a trap operation.
In another incident reported in February, a CGST officer in Rajkot was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 in exchange for a favorable inspection report, with the entire amount recovered during a trap near Racecourse Ground.
Officials emphasized that such operations are conducted based on citizen complaints, with traps established to validate allegations before making arrests.
The ACB has encouraged the public to report bribery incidents, assuring that complaints will be treated confidentially and acted upon swiftly.