Border check-posts are graft hubs

Hyderabad: Raids by the Anti-Corruption Bureau on integrated border check posts across the state revealed large-scale corrupt practices, including roadside dhabas and paan shops being used as collection centres for graft money.

The ACB has conducted searches in seven districts, and so far unaccounted cash of more than Rs 10 lakh has been recovered from these places. The RTA, forest, excise, commercial taxes and other department officials at check-posts have been found giving free passage to inter-state transport of goods without checking if they have valid commercial tax payment receipts. Evasion of excise duty and other taxes is also rampant.

The cash was seized while inspecting the counters of the excise, road transport, groundwater, commercial tax, animal husbandry, marketing, civil supplies and forest wings.

According to ACB director-general A.K. Khan, four officials have been taken into custody so far. “We have received complaints regarding widespread corruption at check-posts. We raided check-posts in seven districts. We will do these checks more frequently, extensively and with an element of surprise,” warned Khan and added that action will be taken against the supervisory officials who fail to curb corrupt practices.

“There is a huge loss of revenue and people are harassed at the check posts. Dhabas, petrol bunks and paan shops near check-posts have turned into collection centres. They use a chit system wherein the vehicle driver or owner has to pay the money at the designated dhaba, petrol bunk or paan shop to private persons and has to collect the chit which is handed over at the check-post.”

Checks were conducted in Nellore, Srikakulam, Ranga Reddy, Nizamabad, Anantapur and three other districts. In Nellore, the ACB seized Rs 1.1 lakh during the raid on a border check-post at Bhimulavaripalem on the AP-Tamil Nadu border.

It was found that an excise SI and three constables were absent although they signed in the attendance register. The ACB will send a report against 25 odd employees to the government recommending disciplinary action.

At the Itchapuram check post, around Rs 2.16 lakh of unaccounted cash was seized from the counters of five departments. Officials said action will be taken against 16 people, including private persons who are part of the graft.