CBI Arrests Tax Officer, Finds Crores in Hidden Assets

As per the report, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its crackdown on corruption in government offices, with the latest case involving a senior Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) official. The arrest follows allegations of bribery and the subsequent seizure of assets disproportionate to known income sources.

CBI Arrest CGST Officer on Bribery Allegation 

The CBI arrested CGST Superintendent Nishan Singh Malli, who was posted in Gajraula with additional responsibilities in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. The arrest was made after the official was caught accepting a ₹1 lakh bribe, reportedly as part of a ₹4 lakh demand, to waive a penalty issued to a private company for non-filing of GST returns.

A tax lawyer, who was representing the businessman involved in the case, has also been arrested. According to the CBI, the advocate conspired with the CGST official and played an active role in pressuring the complainant to comply with the bribe demand.

Finds Unaccounted High-Value Assets

Post-arrest, the CBI conducted searches at various premises linked to the accused. The operation led to the discovery of significant undeclared assets:

• 17 property documents in the name of Nishan Singh Malli and his family
   
• 3 residential flats located in Ghaziabad and Moradabad
   
• 1 commercial shop in Moradabad
   
• 12 residential plots in Rampur and Gajraula
   
• 1 Hyundai Creta vehicle registered under the accused’s name
   
• ₹3 lakh in cash in addition to the ₹1 lakh bribe amount

All recovered assets are currently under scrutiny for verification of ownership and valuation.

Judicial Proceedings and Custody

Following their arrest, both the CGST officer and the tax lawyer were produced before a special court in Ghaziabad. The court remanded them to judicial custody pending further investigation.

The official premises of the accused were also searched, during which relevant case-related documents were seized. These are now being examined by the CBI for further leads.

Modus Operandi and Role of the Advocate

According to the report, the superintendent had issued a penalty notice to a businessman for non-compliance with GST filing regulations. The tax advocate, while officially representing the complainant, allegedly entered into a conspiracy with the CGST official and acted as an intermediary for collecting the bribe.

The businessman, hesitant to comply with the unlawful demand, filed a complaint with the CBI. Based on this input, the agency laid a trap and apprehended the 2 accused while they were receiving the ₹1 lakh instalment.

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Conclusion

The CBI’s operation has brought to light significant corruption within the CGST framework, including bribe-taking and asset accumulation through suspected illicit means. The seized properties and cash point towards potential misuse of official power, and the investigation is expected to uncover further details regarding similar activities.

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