Cyber Crime
Senior GST Officers Suspended in Chhattisgarh Over Alleged Bribery and Extortion Scandal
CHHATTISGARH: Two officials from the Central Goods and Services Tax (GST) department have been suspended following allegations of extorting Rs 7 lakh from two traders in Chhattisgarh under the pretext of irregularities in GST. The issue escalated to the state’s Finance Minister, O.P. Choudhary, who recommended action based on the findings.
The suspended officers include Superintendent Pallav Parganiya and Ashish Pathak, both stationed in Chhattisgarh. Reports indicate that these officials had been coercively collecting money from local businesses. The complaint regarding their misconduct was also brought to Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary’s attention. He forwarded the complaint to the headquarters in Delhi, recommending an investigation and appropriate action.
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The central authorities took the matter seriously and initiated an immediate investigation. The findings confirmed the allegations against Superintendent Pallav Parganiya and Ashish Pathak, leading to their suspension with immediate effect.
In light of this action, the Central GST department has intensified its scrutiny of officials stationed in Chhattisgarh. Both officers had been working in the state for an extended period. Although similar complaints had surfaced previously, they were not taken seriously at the headquarters level until the finance minister intervened. Following the investigation, decisive action was finally taken.