JOIN USOmkarappa, Commercial Tax Officer, Chamarajpet Circle, was trapped on Friday reportedly for taking bribe. The trap was laid by sleuths of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The suspect has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and detained.
Omkarappa had stopped a goods vehicle for checking on October 12. He found the quantity mentioned in the invoice exceeding the actual quantity in the vehicle. He imposed a fine of Rs 1.17 lakh on the vehicle owner. As per the rules, the tax officer has to issue a notice to the vehicle owner, in case of any violation, seeking an explanation. He can impose penalty only on receiving the explanation.
Omkarappa, however, demanded Rs 20,000 from the vehicle owner to issue the notice. He received Rs 3,000 in the first instalment, but the vehicle owner delayed the payment of the remaining amount. The officer later stopped another vehicle of the same owner for carrying more goods than the prescribed limit and demanded Rs 30,000 as bribe. In total, he asked the owner to pay Rs 47,000.