Indian tax officials face bribery allegations in separate cases

Indian authorities have launched separate investigations into bribery allegations involving tax officials in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

In Chennai, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) registered a case against Jamuna, an assistant commissioner with the Commercial Taxes Department. The official is accused of demanding a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a GST consultant to settle proceedings related to his firm. The complainant provided audio recordings of the demands to the agency, which has since initiated an investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In Maharashtra, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested CGST Superintendent Pankajkumar and consultant Prasad Kumar Swami following a complaint from a private construction company project manager. The official allegedly demanded Rs 1 crore to issue a no-objection certificate for the redevelopment of residential units. The CBI apprehended the suspects during a sting operation involving a Rs 10 lakh bribe payment. Both individuals have been remanded to police custody for two days.