Bhubaneswar, October 29: Odisha vigilance on Tuesday apprehended Umakanta Mahakur, Assistant Commissioner of CT & GST, Titilagarh while allegedly demanding and taking bribe Rs 12,000 from a businessman to waive off penalty imposed on him for not payment of professional tax for three financial years.
The incident reported at a time when Government and PSU officials across the State are taking integrity oath as part of the ongoing Vigilance Awareness Week celebrations.
According to a Vigilance Directorate statement, the complainant, who happens to be a businessman had not paid the professional tax amounting to Rs 7,500 for three financial years at a rate of Rs 2,500 per year. For non-payment of tax, the defaulter businessman was served with a notice by Assistant Commissioner Mahakur to make payment of Rs 23,600 including tax amount along with fine and interest.
On receiving the notice, the businessman met the Mahakur and requested him to receive the tax amount only. But, Mahakur refused to accept the tax amount and demanded bribe Rs 12,000 to waive off fine and interest imposed on him, forcing the the businessman to report the matter to Vigilance authorities.
Following this, a team of Odisha Vigilance nabbed Mahakur today, while taking bribe Rs 12,000 from the complainant. The entire tainted bribe money has been recovered from the possession of accused Sri Mahakur and seized.
Following the successful trap, simultaneous searches are going on at locations associated with Mahakur from DA angle.
