A Karnataka Deputy Commissioner of the Commercial Tax Department has been arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat corruption in India's tax system.
The Deputy Commissioner of the Commercial Tax Department, Bharath Kumar Hegde, was caught on Monday while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 6 lakh, Lokayukta officials said.
Hegde, 48, was trapped while receiving the money from Ankola-based businessman Vishwajit Nayak, 53, following a complaint lodged with the Lokayukta, Bengaluru Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Shiv Prakash Devaraj told PTI.
"Acting on a credible complaint, our team conducted a trap and caught the accused officer while accepting Rs 6 lakh," he said.
According to officials, Nayak had purchased eight tipper trucks in 2019 and was eligible for an Input Tax Credit (ITC) of around Rs 60 lakh, of which he had claimed Rs 34 lakh.
The Commercial Tax Department had registered a case alleging that the ITC was claimed illegally and had initiated an inquiry.
Nayak had been summoned four times earlier for questioning and was called again earlier on Monday.
It is alleged that the officer demanded a bribe of Rs 10 lakh, but finally settled for Rs 6 lakh to close the case.
"A team led by Bengaluru Lokayukta SP Shiv Prakash Devaraj carried out the operation and secured the accused during the transaction," a Lokayukta official said.
"We have registered a case, and the investigation is in progress," he added.