GST officer accused of bribery held red-handed in Vapi

An official with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) department of the rank of Superintendent was arrested red-handed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Vapi while accepting a bribe worth Rs 1 lakh from a businessman.

According to officials of the ACB, a complaint was lodged by the victim — who owns Mandal Decorators in Vapi. The victim said that the accused, identified as Narendrakumar Samariya, 46, a resident of Vapi, had demanded a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from him saying that he can reduce the service tax on his business.

On Friday night, officials with the ACB laid a trap outside Samariya's house along with cooperation by the victim. A team was assigned near his house to keep a watch on his movement. According to the plan, the victim reached outside his house with the money and called Samariya. As soon as the accused accepted the money, the ACB officials nabbed him red-handed.

Further investigation revealed that the accused was taking money from a businessman for reducing the service tax. Officials suspect that the accused has also taken bribes in the past from other businessmen. Further investigation is underway.