Sales tax official held for taking Rs 2 lakh bribe

A senior sales tax official was caught while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs two lakh here, Lokayukta sources said today.
Sales Tax Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Singh was caught by the state Lokayukta police here yesterday while he was taking Rs two lakh as bribe at his office in Bittan market area here from three transporters for uninterrupted operations of their trucks, sources said.
Lokayukta police had laid a trap to nab Singh on a complaint lodged by the Prantiya Welfare Transporters Association.
He had allegedly demanded Rs four lakh from six transporters in two instalments of Rs two lakh each for uninterrupted operations of their vehicles, they said adding that Singh was harassing the complainants and often used to stop their trucks from plying.

He was arrested by Lokayukta police on charges of graft but later released on bail, they said.
A case under sections of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused, sources added.