Official nabbed for seeking bribe on GST threat

BHOPAL: In what could be the first such case after implementation of GST, Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta officials have arrested a sales tax officer in Jabalpur for allegedly demanding bribe from a businessman under the threat of increasing his GST tax assessment.
The accused has been identified as Ramashankar Tiwari, a senior clerk. He demanded Rs 50,000 from a businessman and was caught red-handed accepting the bribe, said Lokayukta officials.Tiwari allegedly confronted the Lokayukta team and created a ruckus when the operation was in process around 4pm on Thursday. He has been booked under Prevention of Corruption Act.
Officials said that the sales tax officer had sent a notice to Gopal Krishna, who runs a marriage garden, around a month ago to tell him that the property falls under GST. When Gopal Krishna went to the officer with an explanation, he was allegedly asked to pay Rs 50,000 if he wanted to reduce the penalty and taxes. The businessman was threatened that his tax liability would be increased if he fails to meet the demand.
Gopal Krishna gave him Rs 20,000 in advance, scared of further action, say sources. Later, one of his friends told him that the sales tax officer had raised a wrong demand and there was no need to pay any money.
It was then that Gopal Krishna approached Lokayukta SP Anil Vishwakarma. After registering the complaint, conversations between the sale tax officer and complainant were recorded and a trap was laid. Gopal Krishna was sent with the bait money and Tiwari was arrested as soon as he collected the colour-laced currency notes.