Inquiry launched against E&T Department in corruption case

REGISTRATION OF NON-CUSTOM PAID VEHICLES

E&T director cancels registration of five non-custom paid vehicles registered by an inspector of the department, transfers the accused inspector to property tax department; accused inspector denies charges

Rawalpindi

Anti-Corruption Department, Rawalpindi has started investigation against Excise and Taxation (E&T) Department over registration of five non-custom paid luxurious vehicles.

While, Excise and Taxation (E&T), Rawalpindi Director Tanvir Gondal has transferred Inspector Saleem Butt involved in registration of non-custom paid vehicles from his seat.

When contacted by this scribe, Excise and Taxation (Rawalpindi) Director Tanvir Abbas Gondal said that he has already cancelled registration of non-custom paid vehicles when he learnt that they were bogus.

Admitting that an illegal work has been done, Tanvir Abbas Gondal said that he has cancelled registration of non-custom paid vehicles. “Under the law, if the corruption is proved regarding registration of non-custom paid vehicles, formal cases would be registered against the accused people.

Gondal said that he has sent a report to higher authorities regarding registration of non-custom paid vehicles and advised them to ‘charge sheet’ the guilty officials.

In a question, Gondal said that on the direction of secretary Excise and Taxation, Punjab he has given only three days time to the probe body to complete its investigation. “I have issued a written order to Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) Malik Pervez to probe this matter,” he claimed.

In another question, Excise and Taxation, Rawalpindi director said that the case in which Motor Branch was involved in corruption scandal of Rs137.5 million was still under process.

It merits mentioning here that all officials involved in corruption scandal of Rs137.5 million in 2015 are still working in Excise and Taxation, Rawalpindi office and as per routine and looting public with both hands.

On the other hand, Saleem Butt, the accused inspector in registration of non-custom paid vehicles case has been transferred to property tax department instead of being suspended.

When asked, Gondal told ‘The News’ that he is investigating the matter while the concerned officer has already admitted this offence. “I have cancelled registration of ‘non-custom paid vehicles’ when I knew it was bogus. There is no need of investigation after this statement of Excise and Taxation official,” he added.

Meanwhile, Anti-Corruption Department, Rawalpindi Additional Director Complaint (ADC) Muhammad Attique has recorded statement of Muttahida Transport Federation (MTF) General Secretary Ghulam Mustafa Khan who has also lodged his complainant against Excise and Taxation (E&T), Rawalpindi. The Anti-Corruption, Rawalpindi has also recorded statements of Excise and Taxation (E&T) officials.

While talking to ‘The News’ Excise and Taxation, Rawalpindi Inspector Saleem Butt said that he was innocent in this case. “I have not signed new registration of motors,” he claimed. “I have recorded my statement before anti-corruption department,” he added.

According to details provided by Excise and Taxation (E&T), Rawalpindi the accused inspector Saleem Butt on July 23, 2015 had allegedly registered a non-custom paid vehicle and given it number RIA-15-538 with Chassis No. SCP103003757, Challan No 992496. In the same date, he allegedly registered another non-custom paid vehicle and given it number RIA-15-777 with Challan No. 1021440 with Chassis No. SCP105001580.

Similarly, Saleem Butt on August 6, 2015 allegedly registered a non-custom paid vehicle and given it number RIA-15-848 with Chassis No. SCP100441145, Challan No. of 1045255. On September 8, 2015, the accused inspector registered two non-custom paid vehicles and given them number RIA-15-682 with Chassis No. NZE-1213185534 and Challan No. of 1047268. He also registered fifth non-custom paid vehicle and given it registration number RIS-15-1735 with Chassis No. LH1721023241 and Challan No. of 1016327.

A senior official of Excised and Taxation (E&T), Rawalpindi on condition of anonymity said that Inspector Saleem Butt has allegedly received bribe worth Rs1.4 million to do this illegal work.

According to reports, some clerks handling the matter of life time token of the vehicles have also been summoned in the case.  Earlier an inquiry team had held responsible seventeen clerks of the department and submitted the report to director general Excise Punjab. They were issued charge sheets by the Excise and Taxation Officer, Rawalpindi.

After the issuance of charge sheet, Director General Excise Punjab was to issue orders for a formal inquiry into the mega scandal which are still awaited. Some insiders say that efforts are being made to sweep the whole matter under the carpet.

They said that the charge sheeted employees are still present on their seats. Because of this delaying tactics, the sources said that Anti Corruption Department Rawalpindi on the basis of its own reports has started the investigation and summoned the clerks involved on its own authority.

Under the law, if the corruption is proved, formal cases would be registered against them. It is worth mentioning that some people who have filed appeals against excessive taxes on their properties are waiting for hearing of their cases for the last several months. The affected people say that thousands of applications are lying in the office but they are not been put up for hearing unless there is approach or recommendation of the highest level.