Lokayukta traps Karnataka GST officer in bribery case
Lokayukta traps Karnataka GST Deputy Commissioner in bribery case
Bribe demand linked to GST case notice
A senior Commercial Taxes officer in Karnataka has been arrested after being caught accepting a bribe in Bengaluru. The officer, identified as Bharat Kumar Hegde, 48, was serving as Deputy Commissioner of Goods and Services Tax (GST).
He had earlier issued a notice to 53-year-old Vishwajit Naik, alleging GST evasion amounting to Rs.60 lakh. Following this, Naik approached the officer to seek clarity on the notice.
Negotiation from Rs.10 lakh to Rs.6 lakh
During the interaction, Hegde allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs.10 lakh to settle the GST case. The amount was later negotiated down to Rs.6 lakh.
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Unwilling to pay the bribe, Vishwajit Naik approached the Lokayukta and filed a complaint regarding the demand made by the officer.
Lokayukta conducts trap, arrests officer
Acting on the complaint, a team led by Bengaluru Lokayukta SP Shiv Prakash Devaraj set up a trap. The officials caught Bharat Kumar Hegde red-handed while accepting Rs.6 lakh.
He was immediately taken into custody at the spot in Bengaluru.
Case registered under anti-corruption law
Authorities confirmed that a case has been registered against the officer under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. An investigation is currently underway.
Officials stated that further legal proceedings will follow based on the findings of the probe.
Context: Increasing vigilance in corruption cases
The incident highlights ongoing enforcement efforts by the Lokayukta against corruption within government departments. Recent actions indicate a continued focus on accountability in tax administration and public service delivery.
