The Haryana State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV&ACB) on Saturday arrested a Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) superintendent, Bharat Meena for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹2.5 lakh in exchange for reactivating a private company’s GST registration.

The accused, Bharat Meena (39), was posted as head of the GST Range Office in Bahadurgarh, Jhajjar. Officials stated that Meena was apprehended red-handed during a trap operation in Gurugram’s Basai area following a week-long surveillance exercise.

Trap Laid After Verification of Complaint

According to an SV&ACB officer, the bureau received credible information that Meena had sought illicit payment from a complainant seeking GST number activation for his firm.
“After the complaint was verified, surveillance began on November 30. The team tracked his movements for several days and executed the trap on Saturday morning,” the officer said.

The official added that the complainant was instructed to meet Meena with the money, following which ACB personnel intervened and seized the cash on the spot. The bribe amount has been sealed and secured as evidence.

Possibility of Larger Collusion

Sources within the Bureau indicated that the preliminary probe suggests possible involvement of additional GST personnel in facilitating such illegal clearances.
Senior officials confirmed that further arrests and inquiries have not been ruled out and that the investigation will now focus on determining whether the accused was part of a coordinated bribery mechanism.

FIR Registered Under Prevention of Corruption Act

An FIR has been registered against Meena under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. SV&ACB Chief Ajay Singhal said the bureau is committed to eliminating corrupt practices from government departments.

“No officer found engaged in bribery or misuse of official position will be spared. The drive against corruption will continue with stricter enforcement in the coming days,” Singhal stated.

Anti-Corruption Vigil Intensifies

The arrest comes amid heightened vigilance measures in Haryana, as the bureau increases monitoring of government departments handling taxation, licensing, clearances, and regulatory approvals—areas often susceptible to bribery and extortion complaints from businesses.

Officials confirmed that interrogation of Meena will focus on identifying potential links, payment channels, and previous instances of similar illegal demands by GST personnel.