In a strong move showcasing its commitment to transparency and accountability, the Uttar Pradesh government has initiated strict disciplinary action against seven state tax officials—including senior officers and women officials—after they were found prima facie guilty of causing a loss of over Rs. 2.25 crore in GST revenue through deliberate negligence and collusion with traders.
The fraudulent activities were uncovered in two separate incidents involving the illegal release of vehicles carrying pan masala in Gautam Buddh Nagar, without due penalty or verification, thereby violating GST norms.
High-Level Inquiry Ordered, Officers Transferred
Following the findings of a preliminary probe led by the Chief Secretary of State Tax, Mr. M. Devraj, the state government acted decisively. On Thursday, Departmental Special Secretary Mr. Shyam Prakash Narayan issued orders for a formal inquiry to be conducted by the Divisional Commissioner of Aligarh. The investigation is to be completed within a month, ensuring time-bound action.
One day prior to the formal announcement of disciplinary action, six of the implicated officers were already transferred from sensitive positions in the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) and Flying Squad of Gautam Buddh Nagar to non-strategic postings.
Details of the Fraud: Vehicles Released Without Penalty or Verification
The scandal came to light after four vehicles laden with pan masala were seized on July 23 in Gautam Buddh Nagar. These vehicles were:
- Not weighed
- Not physically verified
- Driver statements were not recorded
Officials instead imposed a nominal penalty in alleged collusion with pan masala traders, leading to a loss of Rs. 1.5 crore in GST in one instance. In another similar case involving seven vehicles of a fake firm—Shiv Trading Company of Maharashtra—an additional Rs. 75 lakh in GST was evaded.
Officers Found Guilty: Transfers and Allegations
The following officers were found prima facie guilty:
- Mr. Vivek Arya, then Additional Commissioner, now posted in Moradabad (Supervisory failure)
- Mr. Alok Kumar, then Joint Commissioner, now at High Court Works, Prayagraj (Supervisory failure)
- Ms. Priyanka, then Assistant Commissioner, now at High Court Works, Lucknow (Vehicle HR 69 C 6772 released)
- Mr. Rohit Rawat, now Assistant Commissioner, Ayodhya (Vehicle NL 01 N 7604 released)
- Ms. Vandana Singh, now at High Court Works, Prayagraj (Vehicle HR 55 AK 1400 released)
- Ms. Shikha Singh, now Assistant Commissioner, Mahoba (Vehicle NL 01 N 6236 released)
- Mr. Suresh Pal, Assistant Commissioner, Flying Squad Unit-6 Noida (Involved in second GST evasion case)
All have been found involved in releasing goods of a fake firm without proper GST collection in violation of standard procedure.
Government’s Message: Zero Tolerance for Corruption in Revenue Services
This incident has become a case study in prompt bureaucratic accountability, as the Yogi Adityanath-led administration continues to emphasize good governance and institutional reform across departments.
By transferring guilty officers, ordering time-bound investigations, and initiating departmental proceedings, the government has sent a clear signal: corruption, negligence, and collusion in public service will not be tolerated.
