GST Council Officer, Aide Arrested Over Corruption Charges

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday arrested GST Council officer Monish Malhotra and his conduit Manas Patra over charges of corruption.

The agency had booked Malhotra, the superintendent of GST Council, who was recently posted in the council headquarters at Jeevan Bharti Building in Delhi, and a private tax consultant Manas Patra over alleged corruption.

Some other officers are also under the scanner.

The CBI said that Malhotra and other officers were extending undue favours to private businessmen by not taking action against them in lieu of 'periodical' bribes.

Manas Patra reportedly worked as a conduit for Malhotra and the officers involved, said CBI.

The CBI FIR states that Manas Patra used to contact parties on behalf of Malhotra and collected bribes on a quarterly/monthly basis - through cheques, NEFT and cash, which he transferred into various bank accounts including those of Malhotra's wife and daughter.

The CBI also received information that Manas Patra has collected huge amount of bribes from people in the last few days and the same was to be delivered to Malhotra at his residence.

The agency has booked Malhotra and Patra under prevention of corruption act and further investigations are being carried out.

Sources say that since Malhotra is a central excise officers, the department and finance ministry will be informed about the action and Patra will be questioned about the role of other officers who are part of the corruption ring.