Ludhiana: GST official arrested for accepting Rs 50,000 bribe

LUDHIANA: The economic offence wing of Ludhiana Vigilance Bureau on Tuesday has arrested GST Excise and taxation officer (ETO) for accepting bribe of Rs 50,000 for not cancelling the GST number of a spinning firm.
The accused has been identified as Amandeep Singh Nanda.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP- Vigilance Bureau) Paramjit Singh Virk said that Umesh Kumar owner of spinning firm, approached vigilance bureau stating that the ETO is seeking bribe from him against not cancelling GST number of his firm. The accused first cancelled GST number of one firm of Umesh and them sent notice to cancel GST number of another firm after which Umesh made a complaint.
Umesh Kumar, owner of spinning firm said that the family has a firm Umesh Spiner private limited, in Agar Nagar. In 2018 near Diwali, the ETO has cancelled GST number of their firm stating that they have discrepancies in firm account. Without issuing any notice, the ETO Amandeep Singh Nanda directly sent the notice of cancellation of GST number. Following this, he appealed to GST Divisional Taxation Commissioner (DTC), Patiala for release of GST number after which district taxation commissioner has summoned them and ETO to present their case.
Umesh added, "a few days ago, he received a notice for cancellation of GST number of his another firm Jal Dhara Cot Spin Pvt Ltd at Budhewal near Kohara. Then he met ETO Nanda and asked him to find a solution and then Nanda demanded Rs 5 Lakh each for his all three firms."
SSP Virk said that, the ETO asked Umesh to come to his office with advance. Umesh reached there with Rs 50,000 meanwhile the vigilance bureau laid a trap and arrested the accused ETO immediately after he accepted the bribe in his office.
A case under section 7 of Prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused. He will be produced before the court on Wednesday.