Graft: Patiala AETC, inspector held for allowing GST evasion

BOTH ACCUSED OF MAKING ₹30-50 LAKH IN BRIBE EVERY MONTH IN LIEU OF ALLOWING TAX EVASION

PATIALA: The state vigilance bureau’s ongoing investigation into Goods and Services (GST) pilferage scam has exposed deep-rooted and ‘systematic’ corruption in the GST and excise department.

The vigilance arrested Patiala assistant excise and taxation commissioner Vishavdeep Singh Bhangu and inspector Abhishek Duggal, posted in the mobile wing of taxation on Thursday.

Bhangu is accused of making Rs 30 lakh in bribe every month and Duggal was making 50 lakh per month in lieu of allowing tax evasion.

A source in the vigilance said names of some of their bosses have also cropped up; the mobile wing is meant to stop tax evasion.

Vigilance has collected extensive evidence after one-year field exercise, including phone tapping, with the permission of the government.

He added that each ‘passer’—a person helping traders evade tax by fixing officers, used to pay between Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.25 crore.

The vigilance has identified eight passers so far.

“We have seized documents, and have phone recordings. Duggal was taking Rs 5 lakh per ‘passer’ per month, and he was having eight-10 such passers. These passers used to give Rs 3 lakh to AETC Bhangu. From clerk to top notch officials, everyone has been found to be in collusion. One can calculate the magnitude of tax evasion. Paying Rs 1 crore per month as bribe, the tax evasion of several crores would be secured,” said a vigilance official probing the case.

A passer Sukhjinder Shinda of Mandi Gobindgarh has handed over a register with details on when and how much bribe he has paid over the few years.

“It’s getting murkier. The mobile wing was created to catch tax evaders, but they have become facilitators,” said officials.

Around 14 officials has been booked and 10 have been arrested.