An inspector with the state sales tax department in Nagpur, Maharashtra, has been arrested for allegedly attempting to extort Rs 15 lakh from a judge of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) tribunal.
The inspector, Rajkumar Diwase, allegedly sent messages to the judge, Ramesh Bhagu Zaid, threatening to expose him with the help of an RTI activist if he did not pay the money. He also warned the judge that he would be physically harmed if he did not comply.
Zaid, who is 59 years old, is a former joint commissioner in the state sales tax department. He was transferred to Nagpur in November last year. Diwase had approached him to try and stall the transfer order.
Zaid filed a complaint with the police after receiving the extortion threats. Diwase and his accomplice, Prakash Gaikwad, were arrested on Sunday. They have been charged with extortion and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of judges in India. It is also a reminder of the need for stricter laws to protect public officials from corruption and extortion.
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