World Connect News
Ground Report (Special Correspondent, Bengaluru): A major corruption crackdown has emerged from Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka. A team of the Bengaluru City Lokayukta Police has arrested a senior Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) official and his personal middleman red-handed while accepting a hefty bribe of ₹8 lakh (approximately $1.8 million). The operation took place at the Kendriya Sadan office complex in Koramangala, Bengaluru.
Disclosure of the Case and Identification of the Officer
According to information provided by the Lokayukta Police, the arrested CGST officer has been identified as Mohit Pratap Singh (Superintendent, CGST South Division-4). The second accused, who was mediating this illegal transaction, has been identified as a private individual named Salman Shaikh. Acting on information from the complainant, Lokayukta officials laid a trap and apprehended both accused within the chambers of a government office.
The case of false complaint and bribery in the name of settling a tax dispute came to light after a complaint was filed by a local businessman (Syed Zameer). A complaint had been filed against the victim businessman regarding GST dues. The accused Superintendent demanded ₹8 lakh in exchange for settling the case and avoiding further punitive action. Upon receiving the businessman’s complaint, the Lokayukta team devised a trap and, as soon as the bribe amount reached the officer through an intermediary, both were arrested red-handed.
Lokayukta police have registered a case
against the accused under Section 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and have begun an investigation. Officials say a thorough search is being conducted at the accused officer’s office and locations to determine if other businessmen were being similarly targeted.