NADIAD: The Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrested two senior Central Goods and Services Tax officials in Gujarat’s Nadiad for allegedly demanding Rs 55 lakh to release a seized transport vehicle, and catching them while accepting the first instalment of the bribe inside their own office.
Officials identified in bribery case
The accused were identified as Amarnath Govardhanram Saroj, a Class 2 superintendent, and Subodh Subhash Chauhan, a Class 2 GST inspector, both posted at the Central GST Bhavan in Nadiad.
The case arose after a complainant, who runs a transportation business, had one of his goods-laden trucks intercepted and seized by Central GST authorities. The vehicle was brought to the Nadiad GST office for inspection.
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Rs 55 lakh demand and trap operation
When the complainant approached the officials for release of the vehicle, Inspector Subodh Chauhan and Superintendent Amarnath Saroj allegedly pointed to deficiencies in the GST documentation of the cargo. To settle the discrepancies and secure release of the truck without further legal penalty, the two officials allegedly demanded a total bribe of Rs 55 lakh and insisted that Rs 10 lakh be paid immediately as the first instalment.
Refusing to pay the bribe, the transporter contacted the ACB through the toll-free helpline 1064. After a formal complaint, the Gandhinagar ACB unit laid a trap in April. The exchange took place inside the Central GST Office at Nadiad, where the accused engaged in a recorded conversation confirming the bribe demand. As soon as the Rs 10 lakh in cash was accepted, the ACB team led by PI D.A. Chaudhary moved in and apprehended both officers on the spot.
Recovery made, wider probe underway
The full amount of Rs 10 lakh was recovered from the office premises. Both Class 2 officers have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act for criminal misconduct.
The arrest has triggered a wider inquiry within the GST department, with the ACB examining whether the two officials were part of a larger extortion network targeting transporters in the region.
