GST officers arrested for extortion in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Sleuths of Central Crime Branch (CCB), Bengaluru and Bengaluru West Police apprehended Superintendent of Central Tax, South Commissionerate, Bengaluru Zone, Senior Intelligence Officer, GST Intelligence, Bengaluru Zone, Senior Intelligence Officer, GST Intelligence, Bengaluru Zone and Intelligence Officer, GST Intelligence, Bengaluru Zone on charge of extortion of money, illegal arrest of persons and others.

Acting on a complaint on September 1 from Keshav Tak, a resident of G.M. Palya in Bengaluru city, sleuths made the arrests of the persons and seized several materials linked to the offence. As per the preliminary investigations by the sleuths, the commission of offence has been established allegedly by the officers of Central GST, Bengaluru Zone. Initial investigation also revealed the raid on the office of Mexo Solutions had no approval from the Director General of GST Intelligence, Bengaluru Zonal Unit (Central GST).

In his complaint to Byappanahalli police of Bengaluru city, Keshav Tak attached to Mexo Solutions Private limited in Jeevan Bhimanagar of Bengaluru city alleged five persons including a woman posed themselves as officers attached to Goods and Services Tax and Enforcement Directorate officers barged into residence on August 30 at around 9 pm.

The complaint by Keshav Tak identified the persons posing as officers as Abhishek posed as ED officer, Santosh and Manoj as GST Officer. However, the identities of others were known to him.

He alleged they snatched his mobile phone and took away several materials with them. Tak alleged the persons posing as GST and ED officers took him to the residence of Pawan Tak, Mukesh Jain, Rakesh Manak Chandani and all his friends were picked up by the five persons in cars. The complaint alleged the persons posing as officers took them all to the office in Jeevan Bhimanagar and locked them up in separate rooms.

Keshav Tak alleged the following day he was taken to various locations before returning back to Jeevan Bhimanagar office. Tak alleged he was asked to make a phone call to Roshan Jain to arrange Rs 3 crore and when Roshan Jain found it difficult to arrange the demanded money by them and alleged assault on him by the officers.

Roshan Jain arranged Rs 1.5 crore on September 1 and the persons posing as officers took the money and later they let them free after taking their signatures on documents. Before they left the office, Tak said the officers left behind a copy of spot mahajar.

To gather more details on the alleged incident, Keshav Tak did not respond to repeated phone calls. Investigations are underway.