Two GST department officials on charges of taking bribe

: Two inspectors working in GST and Customs Department were Wednesday taken into custody for allegedly taking bribe from a businessman who was "illegally" transporting prohibited pan masala and gutka in Malkajgiri area here, police said.

V Arun Kumar and M Satheesh along with four other officials stopped a vehicle Tuesday night on information that prohibited pan masala and gutka packets were being illegally transported in it, they said.

The duo then allegedly threatened the businessman transporting the material saying that he would be put in jail for five years for possessingprohibited pan masala and gutka and demanded Rs 10 lakh to let him go, police said based on a complaint.

After negotiations they agreed to take Rs 2.2 lakh bribe without booking a case. The complainant paid Rs 1.2 lakh to them and the duo mounted pressure on him to pay the balance Rs 1 lakh, a police official said.

"Unable to arrange the amount, the businessman approached the police, after which a case on charge of extortion was registered," the police official said adding the duo was nabbed while four other officials escaped.