Major Corruption Crackdown in Saharanpur: State Tax Officer Arrested
Significant Action Against Corruption in Uttar Pradesh
In a notable operation against corruption in Uttar Pradesh, the vigilance team achieved a significant breakthrough in Saharanpur. On Monday, the trap team from the Meerut sector apprehended a state tax officer while he was accepting a bribe of one lakh rupees. The officer, identified as Sunil Kumar, was serving as an assistant commissioner at the CTO office, stationed in the mobile squad second unit on Delhi Road, Saharanpur. He was caught red-handed at his residence, causing a stir within the department.
Details of the Complaint
The case originated from a complaint filed by a trader who supplies goods from Saharanpur to Roorkee. According to the complainant, the accused officer was checking commercial vehicles during his deployment at the border and deliberately raised objections regarding the bills to harass traders. This was part of his strategy to extort money illegally.
Incident Leading to Arrest
On March 28, 2026, while transporting scrap from Jagadhari to Roorkee, the trader's vehicle was stopped near the Lote Bridge on the Saharanpur bypass. During the inspection, the officer raised issues with the bills and had the vehicle, along with its cargo, parked at the state tax office, insisting on a fine of nearly three lakh rupees.
Trader's Complaint and Subsequent Demands
When the trader returned to the office on April 2, 2026, with the three lakh rupees, the officer introduced new conditions. He demanded that 1,95,019 rupees be deposited online into a government account and an additional 1,05,000 rupees in cash. Although the complainant transferred the funds via QR codes from different accounts, no receipt or record was provided for the cash payment. The vehicle was only released after this transaction.
Continued Extortion Attempts
Furthermore, on April 4, the officer demanded an extra one lakh rupees for another e-way bill. He allegedly communicated through the driver that to ensure smooth business operations in the future, a monthly bribe of one lakh rupees would be necessary. Frustrated by the ongoing illegal demands and harassment, the trader finally lodged a complaint with the Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Establishment. Following a preliminary investigation that confirmed the allegations, the Meerut trap team devised a plan. The complainant was sent to meet the accused with the agreed amount. As soon as the officer accepted the bribe at his home, the team swooped in and arrested him on the spot.
Legal Proceedings Initiated
Post-arrest, the accused is currently being interrogated, and legal action is underway under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Officials from the vigilance establishment stated that this operation sends a strong message against the corruption prevalent in the department and that strict actions will continue in similar cases in the future.