A GST Enforcement Officer was caught red-handed by the Vigilance Department for accepting a bribe of ₹3.5 lakh for releasing two seized lorries.
The arrested officer is Suman P.N., an Enforcement Officer with the Valayar GST Enforcement Squad and a native of Kurudikkad, Palakkad. He was caught while accepting the bribe from the complainant in exchange for releasing two lorries belonging to a scrap business in which the complainant is a partner.
This is one of the highest bribe amounts seized in recent trap cases by the Vigilance Department.
Earlier this month, on January 6, GST Enforcement Squad officials intercepted two lorries transporting scrap material to a company in Pollachi. The scrap had been collected from various dealers with proper bills. The vehicles were stopped at Kuzhalmannam, inspected, and later detained at the Valayar GST Office premises.
After detaining the lorries, GST officials gave the drivers a phone number and instructed them to ask the owner to contact that number. When the complainant called the number, he spoke to Enforcement Officer Suman. As instructed, the complainant and the company accountant visited the GST office the next day and submitted all required documents. However, stating that he needed time to examine the records, the officer sent them back.
When the complainant later met Suman again, the officer demanded a fine of ₹23 lakh. The complainant responded that all documents were valid and requested a reduction in the fine. At this point, Suman allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹4 lakh, stating that he could “manage” the issue. Eventually, after collecting an ₹8 lakh fine, Suman released the two lorries but demanded ₹3.5 lakh as a bribe, saying he would inform the complainant by phone about when to deliver the money.
On January 25, 2026, Suman called the complainant and asked him to hand over the ₹3.5 lakh in person at 11:00 a.m., stating that he would specify the location. Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant informed the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance, Palakkad. Acting on his instructions, a Vigilance team laid a trap.
At around 1:40 p.m., while accepting the bribe amount of ₹3.5 lakh from the complainant near Kurudikkad Junction, Suman was caught red-handed by the Vigilance team.
The arrested accused will be produced before the Kozhikode Vigilance Court.
The Vigilance Director, Manoj Abraham IPS, has appealed to the public to report any information related to corruption through the Vigilance toll-free number 1064, mobile number 8592900900, or WhatsApp number 9447789100.
