CBI arrests GST Council superintendent in graft case

Monish Malhotra, superintendent of the newly-established GST Council has been arrested by the CBI for allegedly receiving bribe through one of his close aides.
For representational purpose | File Photo
For representational purpose | File Photo
Updated on
2 min read

NEW DELHI: The CBI on Thursday arrested superintendent of GST Council Monish Malhotra for allegedly receiving bribe for extending favours to some businessmen during his stint in Central Excise. Along with Malhotra, a tax consultant was also arrested.

Malhotra was earlier posted as superintendent, Range 36, Central Excise, Nehru Place, in the national capital.

The arrests come after a case was registered under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act on the allegations that Malhotra indulged in corrupt practice of extending undue favours to private parties/businessmen by not taking action against them in lieu of periodical illegal gratification.

Tax consultant Manas Patra allegedly used to contact the private parties on behalf of Malhotra and used to allegedly collect bribes on a regular basis.

The CBI laid a trap and caught both the accused when Patra handed over `10,000 to Malhotra who readily accepted the same.

Searches were conducted at the premises of both the accused persons including their offices and residences.

A CBI spokesperson said, “Currency notes amounting to `7 lakh (approximately) were recovered during the searches at the residence of the superintendent.”

Patra had deposited the funds in his own account to camouflage the bribe and later transferred the money to an HDFC Bank account of Malhotra’s wife Shobhna and his daughter Aiyushi’s account in ICICI Bank, the CBI FIR alleged.

Finance Ministry officials said Malhotra was managing correspondence from various stakeholders in the GST Council and was not in a position to deal with the public. They said the money he was allegedly collecting was for the period when he was in the Central Excise.

Both the arrested persons were produced before the special judge, CBI Cases, Patiala House Courts, which sent them to judicial custody until August 16.

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