Gujarat govt suspends state GST inspector for role in fake I-T raid in Dahod

Dahod: The Gujarat government has suspended state GST Inspector Vipul Patel for allegedly impersonating Income Tax (IT) officers to conduct a fraudulent raid at a businessman’s home in Dahod earlier this month. Patel was arrested along with four others for their involvement in the crime.

The Gujarat government issued a statement on Tuesday, describing Patel’s actions as a “serious breach of trust” and “misuse of power.” The Goods and Service Tax (GST) department has also initiated a vigilance inquiry into Patel’s conduct.

Patel has been immediately suspended and will have to report to Veraval as his new headquarters during the suspension period.

Patel was arrested on January 11, 2025, by Dahod police for impersonating an Income Tax officer and conspiring to conduct a fake tax raid in Dahod.

According to the police, a group of six individuals began conducting raids on local businessmen earlier this month, with one raid taking place at the home of Alpesh Prajapati, a licensed moneylender, on January 10. The gang demanded ₹25 lakh, claiming they would confiscate unaccounted-for jewelry from Prajapati’s shop. However, after paying ₹2 lakh, Prajapati was alerted by relatives that he may have been defrauded.

Following Prajapati’s complaint, Dahod police arrested two of the accused on Saturday, while the others fled. Eventually, all seven individuals, including Patel, were apprehended. DeshGujarat