CBI registers corruption cases against two city-based GST officers

The complainant Syed Feroz, an iron scrap trader, was jailed in the case and lodged a complaint with the CBI after being released from jail. Based on the complaint, the CBI officials registered cases.

The Senior Intelligence Officer Anand Kumar and Inspector Manish Sharma working in GST Commissionerate in Hyderabad handled the case of complainant Syed Feroz's GST payments. Even as Syed Feroz has claimed that he pays the GST as per rules and regulations, the accused officers started harassing the complainant on pretext of the violations in GST.

On June 3, 2023, the accused officers called Syed Feroz over mobile phone and informed them that they would visit the business premises for searching on pretext of GST violations. The complainant alleged that the GST officers allegedly demanded the bribe of Rs 5 lakh to avoid action.

"As the complainant denied offering the bribe and replied that he paid all GST on time without any violations, the GST officers had arguments with the complainant and the GST officers lodged a complaint with Saroornagr police alleging that the complainant tried to kidnap them. Based on the complaint, police registered cases and arrested complainant Syed Feroz and sent them to jail," Syed Feroz said in his complaint to CBI.

After being released from jail, Syed Feroz lodged a complaint with CBI by submitting evidence including an FIR copy registered by Saroornagar police. The CBI has conducted a preliminary probe and found irregularities of GST officers and wrote to the senior officials of Central GST office in Hyderabad seeking approvals for taking action.

On August 7, 2024, the GST Commissionerate officials replied to CBI officials granting permission to take action following corruption allegations against the GST officers Anand Kumar and Manish Sharma. Meanwhile, the department of Personnel and Training officials have also given approvals to the CBI to take action. Following the permission was granted by respective departments, the CBI registered cases against Anand Kumar and Manish Sharma for allegedly indulging in corruption activities.