4 Sales Tax officials held for graft

Mumbai, Oct 13 (UNI) Four Sales Tax officials, including two women, were arrested by the Anti Corruption Bureau for taking bribes at Mazgaon in south-central Mumbai yesterday, ACB sources said today here.

The officials were trapped in a 'sting operation', using a hidden camera, conducted for the first time by the ACB.

The sources said they had received a harassment complaint from one Ramnikbhai Patel, a businessman, stating that three Sales Tax inspectors and a clerk were demanding a bribe from him. They wanted Ramnik to pay Rs 50 per 'C' form, used for supplying or purchasing raw material, which is to be filled in the Sales Tax Department.

The accused -- Suresh Jadhav, Sudha Janvilkar, Neeta Gore (All Sales Tax inspectors) and Bandu Rathod, a clerk -- allegedly kept their drawers open for parties to drop Rs 50 note in it for each form.

The ACB officials verified the complaint. Thereafter, they used a hidden camera to collect evidence against the accused and finally arrested them last evening.

UNI