The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Friday arrested chartered accountant Gursewak Singh from Jalandhar while he was allegedly receiving the first installment of a ₹30 lakh bribe. According to VB officials, the CA had demanded the amount on behalf of a Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Assistant Commissioner—an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer posted in Jalandhar.
The complainant, reportedly a local business owner, claimed that the bribe was solicited in exchange for favorable treatment during an ongoing inquiry under the CGST Act. Following preliminary verification, the VB flying squad laid a trap and apprehended Singh red-handed with ₹10 lakh in hand—witnessed by two official observers.
Chain of Command or Rogue Operation?
While the CA is currently the only one arrested, his confession has drawn attention to the CGST Assistant Commissioner he claimed to be acting for. “On the basis of the CA’s disclosure, the role of the IRS officer is now under investigation,” a VB spokesperson confirmed. Though the officer’s name remains undisclosed, VB officials say that further legal steps are being considered.
La Pino’z Owner’s Complaint Leads to CBI Arrest of Senior IRS Officer
An FIR has been registered under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Gursewak Singh was presented in court on Saturday, with investigators confirming that deeper probes are underway.
A Larger Pattern?
This incident isn’t just a one-off case. It highlights a broader pattern of how middlemen, including financial professionals like chartered accountants, often act as conduits for facilitating bribes within the tax and regulatory ecosystem. Experts suggest that the use of intermediaries is a tactic to provide plausible deniability to officials while ensuring “results” for business clients.
The arrest has stirred concern in Punjab’s business circles, many of whom have long complained—off the record—about harassment and corruption within tax enforcement agencies. For now, vigilance authorities are tight-lipped about whether more arrests are imminent or whether the IRS officer named in the sting will face suspension or internal inquiry.