Two check-post officials shifted

TAKING SERIOUS note of over Rs 100-cr revenue loss to the State exchequer due to the nexus between the ingot traders and check-post officials, the government today shunted two officials from the Naubatpur check-post.

TAKING SERIOUS note of over Rs 100-cr revenue loss to the State exchequer due to the nexus between the ingot traders and check-post officials, the government today shunted two officials from the Naubatpur check-post.

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Simultaneously, a departmental committee probing the matter is said to be preparing a charge-sheet against a dozen officers.

The two officers were shifted from the Naubatpur check-post for their alleged failure to check the evasion of trade tax. Joint trade tax commissioner, Special Investigation Branch (SIB), Naubatpur check-post (Varanasi) SD Dwivedi was attached to the chief secretary office whereas deputy commissioner PK Dwivedi was sent to the trade tax tribunal in Meerut.

A four-member committee was also set up by trade tax commissioner Rajnish Gupta to probe Rs-100 cr scam. Sources said the inquiry committee was preparing charge-sheet against a dozen officials and was expected to submit its report in a day or two.

The Hindustan Times had carried the report “Ingot traders cheat T-T Dept of Rs 100 cr” on August 2. The report said that the trucks that used to come from Bihar and Orissa and were loaded with ingot, procured a certificate from the entry check-post in UP, and later got it cancelled at the exit check-post showing that the consignments were taken to Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh.

However, in reality, the ingot was sold to the iron industries in UP itself instead of taking it to Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh. This way they evaded the tax applicable on the inter-state sale of goods.