Superintendent Sentenced in Bribery Case; GST Officers Under Probe
The Special Judge for CBI Cases in Ahmedabad has sentenced Hashmukh Chhaganbhai Rathod, the former Superintendent of Service Tax, Range, Nadiad, to five years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 30,000. Rathod was convicted for soliciting a bribe of Rs. 2,000 to grant a Registration Certificate (Service Tax Code) to a complainant’s firm. The bribe was solicited on April 24, 2014, and Rathod was caught red-handed on April 25, 2014, following a CBI sting operation. The investigation led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing. Additionally, the CBI has registered a case against two officers from the GST Commissionerate in Hyderabad, including a Superintendent and an Inspector. The officers are accused of demanding Rs. 5 lakh as bribe from a complainant, threatening to impose GST and seizing the complainant’s iron scrap shop. They allegedly demanded an additional Rs. 3 lakh to release the seized premises. Searches conducted by the CBI in Hyderabad resulted in the recovery of incriminating documents, and the investigation is ongoing.
A. DESIGNATED COURT SENTENCES THEN SUPERINTENDENT OF SERVICE TAX, RANGE, NADIAD TO 05 YEARS’ RIGOROUS IMPRISONMENT WITH FINE OF Rs 30,000/- IN A CASE OF BRIBERY
The Special Judge for CBI Cases, Ahmedabad today sentenced accused Shri Hashmukh Chhaganbhai Rathod, the then Superintendent, Service Tax, Range, O/o the Commissioner of Central Excise, Customs and Service Tax, Nadiad to 5 years’ Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs. 30,000/- in a case related to bribery.
CBI had registered a case on 24.04.2014 against the said accused on allegations that accused demanded illegal gratification of Rs. 2500/- for granting Registration Certificate (Service Tax Code) (ST-2) to the complainants partnership firm. After negotiation, the accused agreed to accept illegal gratification of Rs. 2,000 from the complainant.
CBI laid a trap on 25.04.2024 and accused Shri Hashmukh C. Rathod was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs. 2000 from the complainant. Accused was subsequently arrested.
After the completion of investigation, charge sheet was filed on 22.08.2014 against the accused for the offence of demanding and accepting illegal gratification and criminal misconduct.
After trial, the Court found the accused guilty and sentenced him accordingly.
B. CBI REGISTERS A CASE AGAINST TWO OFFICERS OF GST COMMISSIONERATE HYDERABAD ON ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBERY
CBI has registered a case against two accused including Superintendent and Inspector of Principal Commissionerate of Central Tax. GST Hyderabad Commissionerate, GST Bhavan, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad. It has been alleged in the complaint that both accused harassed and extracted Rs. 5 lakh from complainant.
It was alleged that accused threatened to impose Goods & Services Tax on complainant for certain alleged irregularity. Further, complainant alleged that accused GST officers seized the iron Scrap Shop of complainant’s private company and demanded and accepted Rs. 5 lakh as illegal gratification on 04.07.2023. It was also alleged that accused further demanded Rs. 3 lakh to open the seized premises.
CBI conducted searches at two places in Hyderabad which led to recovery of incriminating documents.
Investigation is continuing.
