IANS | 15 Mar, 2024
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two officers
of the CGST & CX Division I, Belapur in Navi Mumbai for allegedly
demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 1,50,000 to 'settle' a service tax
case, an official said here on Friday.
The accused were
identified as Assistant Commissioner CGST Suhas C. Bhalerao, and
Inspector CGST Shubham D. Mohapatra, both based in the Belapur office in
the satellite city.
The CBI said that following a complaint by a
partner in a transport firm -- who was served a show-cause notice by
Bhalerao pertaining to a service tax matter -- the agency registered a
case and started the discreet probe.
After the complainant
submitted the required documents in reply to the show-cause notice,
Bhalerao allegedly demanded an illegal gratification of Rs 6,00,000
ostensibly to 'settle' the matter.
After haggling with the
complainant over the huge amount, Bhalerao finally agreed at Rs 1,50,000
which was to be handed over through his accomplice, CGST Inspector
Mohapatra.
Following this, the CBI laid a trap and nabbed
Mohapatra red-handed while accepting the bribe amount on behalf of
Bhalerao from the complainant.
The CBI also arrested Bhalerao and
then swooped on the homes and offices of the accused duo, and they shall
be produced before the Special Court for remand, while further
investigations are underway.
