Bengaluru GST officer wanted Rs 20 lakh to close a tax case, caught taking Rs 8 lakh from businessman

Lokayukta police in Bengaluru on Thursday allegedly caught a Central GST official while accepting a bribe of Rs 8 lakh through a middleman. The official, identified as GST Superintendent Mohit Pratap Singh, and his alleged agent Salman Sheik were arrested in connection with the case.


Singh, who is posted in South Division-4, A-Range, South Commissionerate, had allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh from a businessman involved in the iron trade to close a case registered against him, according to Lokayukta police.

GST official allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh

According to police, the businessman had been booked for alleged tax evasion but claimed that the complaint against him was false. When he approached Singh seeking a resolution, the official allegedly offered to close the matter in exchange for Rs 20 lakh.

“The city-based businessman was booked for evading tax. However, the complaint was false and Singh knew it. When the businessman approached Singh seeking a solution, Singh promised to close the case once for all and demanded a Rs 20-lakh bribe. Finally, Singh agreed to take Rs 8 lakh and directed the businessman to hand over the money to his agent Salman Sheik,” Lokayukta police said.

Businessman approached Lokayukta police

After the alleged demand, the businessman approached the Lokayukta and lodged a complaint against Singh and Sheik under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Police subsequently planned a trap and instructed the businessman to hand over the money to Sheik, who was waiting near Singh’s chamber at Kendriya Sadan in Bengaluru’s Koramangala.

“The businessman approached us and registered a case against Singh and Sheik under the Prevention of Corruption Act. We laid the trap and directed the businessman to hand over the cash to Sheik, who was waiting near Singh’s chamber in Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala. The raids were carried out when Singh received the cash from Sheik,” the anti-corruption police said.

Singh, Sheik sent to judicial custody

Following the operation, Lokayukta police arrested both Singh and Sheik. The two were subsequently sent to judicial custody at Bengaluru Central Prison. The investigation into the alleged bribery case is continuing.

[With TOI inputs]