Jalna (Maharashtra), Jul 29 ( PTI) The Anti-Corruption Bureau has caught a 44-year-old woman GST officer and a private tax consultant while allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 60,000 to unblock a trader's Input Tax Credit (ITC) in Maharashtra's Jalna district, the ACB said.

The trader, who runs an electronics shop, had received a show-cause notice on June 6 after his Input Tax Credit was blocked. When he approached a tax consultant on July 17 regarding the issue, he allegedly informed him that a tax officer at the office of the Deputy Commissioner, State Goods and Service Tax (GST), was demanding Rs 1 lakh to unblock the ITC.

The 28-year-old tax consultant allegedly encouraged the businessman to settle the amount with the officer. Later, the amount was negotiated down to Rs 80,000, and a first payment of Rs 60,000 was agreed upon, according to the ACB.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the businessman approached the ACB, which laid a trap on Tuesday and caught the tax officer while taking the bribe in her cabin, the anti-graft agency said.

The ACB later apprehended the tax officer and the consultant. Further legal action was being taken against the two accused, it added. PTI COR GK

Input Tax Credit unblocking allegedly involved illegal gratification, prompting a trap operation and apprehension of the officer and consultant. Alleged bribery connected with unblocking Input Tax Credit arose after an electronics trader received a show-cause notice and had its ITC blocked. A private tax consultant allegedly conveyed that a State GST officer demanded illegal gratification for unblocking the credit and encouraged the trader to settle the demand. Following a complaint, a trap operation allegedly led to the apprehension of the officer and consultant, with further legal action in progress.