A special CBI court in Bhopal on Monday remanded two Central GST officials to judicial custody, marking a significant development in a high-profile bribery case. The officials, an Assistant Commissioner and an Inspector, are accused of demanding a hefty bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a local hotelier.
The Trap and Arrest
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took action after the hotelier, who had received a recovery notice for Rs 1 crore, approached the agency. Assistant Commissioner Vivek Verma and Inspector Sachin Khare allegedly demanded protection money to settle the matter. Following a complaint, the CBI laid a meticulous trap.
The investigating agency instructed the complainant to meet the accused with a partial payment. When Verma and Khare accepted Rs 4 lakh in cash, CBI sleuths moved in and arrested them on the spot. The officials were caught red-handed, providing concrete evidence for the case.
The Third Accused and Legal Proceedings
While the two primary accused were apprehended, a third individual involved in the alleged scheme managed to evade capture. Mukesh Verman, a superintendent at the GST office, fled the scene and is currently absconding. Authorities are conducting a search to locate him.
The court's decision to send Verma and Khare to judicial custody came after their initial three-day remand with the CBI ended. This allows the agency to continue its investigation while the accused remain in legal custody.
Implications and Broader Context
This case highlights the ongoing efforts by central agencies like the CBI to combat corruption within government departments. The arrest of mid-level tax officials on serious bribery charges sends a strong message about accountability. It also underscores the challenges businesses sometimes face with regulatory authorities.
The judicial process will now determine the final outcome, but the immediate custodial sentence reflects the gravity of the evidence presented by the investigating team. The public will be watching closely as this case, which pits a hotelier against powerful tax officials, unfolds in the courts.
