OFS Officer Lands In Vigilance Net After Caught Taking Bribe
Key Points
The officer allegedly demanded the bribe to close pending show cause notice for payment of tax & fine related to Input Tax Credit reversal.
The victim approached the vigilance department and registered a complaint.
The anti-corruption wing laid a trap and apprehended the officer while accepting the gratification.
Bhubaneswar, Aug 27: OFS-I officer and Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, Bhubaneswar-IV Circle, Sarita Barik, was caught red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000 from the owner of a bakery shop.
According to reports, Sarita Barik had issued a show-cause notice to the complainant’s food products firm, demanding payment of Rs 2,27,147 for reversal of Input Tax Credit (ITC) for the financial year 2020–21.
When the complainant approached her for reconsideration, the officer allegedly demanded the bribe to close pending show cause notice for payment of tax & fine related to Input Tax Credit reversal.
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✨Following this, the victim approached the vigilance department and registered a complaint.
Based on the complaint, the anti-corruption wing laid a trap and apprehended the officer while accepting the gratification.
Following the sting operation, Vigilance teams launched simultaneous raids at three locations linked to the accused officer.
So far, officials have recovered Rs 1.45 lakh in cash, 222 grams of gold, jewellery bills, property documents, and bank deposits amounting to approximately Rs 60 lakh from her rented residence in Bhubaneswar.
A case has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and further investigation is underway.