Two GST officials held for demanding bribe

The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested two employees of Goods and Service Tax (GST) department for demanding a bribe of ₹40,000 from a Thane-based

The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested two employees of Goods and Service Tax (GST) department for demanding a bribe of ₹40,000 from a Thane-based restaurant owner.

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The complainant had not used the GST number for his restaurant business and had approached the department to cancel the number. He told the ACB that Pravin Wankhede,28, demanded a ₹40,000 bribe to get the work done. Wankhede’s colleague Aakash Khobragade, 28, was accused of persuading the complainant to give the bribe.

Wankhede agreed to accept the first installment of ₹10,000 at the canteen in Konkan Bhavan. The complainant approached the ACB last week and lodged a complaint against the duo. The ACB officials said Wankhede was arrested while accepting the bribe while Khobragade was taken into custody from his office.