GST deputy commissioner Dhanendra Kumar Pandey arrested in Lucknow

LUCKNOW: A Deputy Commissioner of Goods and Services Tax (GST) was caught by Vigilance Establishment red-handed taking a bribe of Rs 2 lakh in exchange for processing a private company's GST refund on Tuesday. The accused arrested was identified as Dhanendra Kumar Pandey. He was posted as Deputy Commissioner (GST) at Zone 20 and has been suspended with immediate effect.

Giving details in the case, Superintendent of police, Vigilance HQ, Lucknow, headquarters, Arvind Chaturvedi, said that upon investigation, it was revealed that the company, Ardam Data Services Pvt. Ltd., had legitimately claimed a refund of approximately Rs 20 lakh based on GST incurred in their export-related operations. However, Dhanendra Kumar Pandey, allegedly solicited a bribe to expedite the refund process.

“Since last one week, the owner of the company was made to run to get his legitimate claim. Thereafter, a representative from an export company dialled the anti-bribery helpline of Vigilance Establishment and narrated his ordeal that he was being sought for a bribe,” said Chaturvedi.

Prompt action was taken by the Vigilance Headquarters upon receiving the complaint, and we set up a trap against the deputy commissioner. The team directed the victim to keep in touch with the accused officer and the date of giving the bribe was fixed as March 19.

“On March 19, at around 4pm, the trap was laid, resulting in Pandey being arrested while accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh at the Commercial Tax Office in Lucknow area of Hazratganj,” said the officer.

The case has been registered at the Vigilance Police Station, Lucknow Sector under the charges of prevention of corruption act.

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