CBI books two GST officers for alleged extortion in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated a probe against two GST officials including the Superintendent and Inspector of the Principal Commissionerate of Central Tax. GST Hyderabad Commissionerate. The case was registered following allegations of extortion. A businessman alleged that the officials threatened to impose Goods & Services Tax and extorted a bribe of Rs. 5 lakh.
It has been alleged in the complaint that both accused harassed and extracted Rs. 5 lakh from the complainant. According to the complainant Syed Feroz, two Goods and Service Tax (GST) Officials V.D. Anand Kumar and Manish Sharma allegedly harassed and extracted Rs.5 lakhs from him threatening to impose a Goods and Service Tax fine for alleged irregularity.
“The GST officials seized the Iron Scrap Shop of the complainant, M/s Grade One Iron Scrap merchants and demanded and accepted Rs.5 lakhs as illegal gratification on 4th July, 2023. They further demanded Rs.3 lakhs to open the seized premises,” said complaint Syed Feroz
During these incidents a scuffle took place between the complainant and the two GST Officials, V.D. Anand Kumar and Manish Sharma. Consequently, a case was registered at Saroor Nagar Police Station against the complainant Syed Feroz along with four others were arrested on abduction charges and sent to judicial remand.
Based on the complaint from Syed Feroz, CBI conducted discreet verification which revealed that the said two GST Officials V.D. Anand Kumar and Manish Sharma had committed the offense punishable under section 120-B and 384 of IPC and section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in the year 2018).
Subsequently, CBI has registered a case against two accused including Superintendent and Inspector of Principal Commissionerate of Central Tax. GST Hyderabad Commissionerate, GST Bhavan, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad. Further,CBI conducted searches at two places in Hyderabad which led to the recovery of incriminating documents. Further investigation is underway.
