Kanpur GST commissioner, 2 supdts among 8 arrested

KANPUR: Eight persons, including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) commissioner, were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) late on Friday night and early Saturday for allegedly collecting “protection money” from industrialists in this industrial town.

The arrests took place after the investigation agency conducted raids at various locations in New Delhi and Kanpur, confirmed CBI in a statement.

The raids also led to the recovery of Rs 58 lakh and several incriminating documents, including diaries, pen drives and documents of properties worth several crore rupees, the statement added.

All the arrested accused were produced in the CBI-designated courts in Lucknow and Delhi.

The CBI claimed Kanpur GST Commissioner Sansar Chand was running a bribery racket and used to collect quarterly and monthly payments for giving “protection” to industrialists in

THE RAIDS LED TO THE RECOVERY OF ₹58 LAKH AND SEVERAL INCRIMINATING DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING DIARIES, PEN DRIVES AND DOCUMENTS OF PROPERTIES WORTH SEVERAL CRORE RUPEES

the city.

Apart from Chand, two GST superintendents Ajay Srivastava and Rajeev Singh were also arrested from their residences in upscale Sarvodaya Nagar and Kakadeo localities here.

Another GST superintendent Aman Shah and Chand’s wife Avinash Kaur were named in the FIR but are yet to be arrested.

Others arrested include director Shishu Soaps and Chemicals Manish Sharma, GST office staff Saurabh Pandey, brokers Amit Awasthi, Aman Jain and Chandra Prakash Monu.

Chand’s wife has been named in the case for allegedly receiving expensive gifts from industrialists. The CBI’s anti-corruption wing have charged all of them under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and sections 7, 11, 12 of Prevention of Corruption Act (taking gratification by corrupt and illegal means with active involvement of private persons.)

Chand and his group were using private parties for the organised and systematic collection of money, said the CBI.

“Their broker Amit Awasthi used to put pressure for payments, while Aman Jain and Chandra Prakash used to transfer funds through Hawala channel and regularly paid money to Chand’s wife at her Defence Colony house in New Delhi,” the CBI sources said.

Sources said the CBI team, during electronic surveillance, picked up the trail when it found Chand taking periodic updates from his three superintendents about some money.

At one point, Chand was caught inquiring from Ajay Srivastava about payment from “Shishu”.

It turned out it the director of Shishu Soaps.

Later, Manish Sharma was heard promising to make payments in February and April. He, however, told brokers that he was getting notices from Central Customs and Excise and needed some relief before making payments.

At this, Awasthi called him and asked him to pay Rs 1.5 lakh immediately, which he arranged for delivery to any of three superintendents, the CBI said.

The CBI laid a trap and apprehended one of the accused who had received the bribe money on behalf of the GST commissioner. Later, the other persons involved in the racket were arrested.

The investigating agency has sought 10-day police custody remand of the six accused presented in the Lucknow court. The case will be heard on Monday.