2 Central Excise GST officials assaulted, kidnapped by scrap traders in Hyderabad; rescued

HYDERABAD: In an audacious act, a gang of scrap traders kidnapped Goods and Services Tax Council (GST) inspectors of the Central Excise Department when they descended on their godown for an inspection under Saroor Nagar police station limits in Hyderabad on Wednesday. However, the misery ended for the GST officials as the police responded quickly and rescued them from the clutches of scrap traders.

Saroor Nagar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sai Sri said that two Central Excise GST officials, Mani Sarma and Anand, along with other officials, carried out an inspection at a scrap and welding shop in Sai Krishna Nagar of Dilshukh Nagar. During the checks, the officials had identified that the scrap dealers were evading tax using fake GST numbers. When the officials questioned the scrap traders about the malpractice, they started a heated altercation with the officials, alleging that they were fake GST officials.

The DCP said that the scrap traders even attacked the GST officials and snatched away their identity cards before whisking them away in a four-wheeler. The scrap traders also demanded Rs 5 lakh as ransom in exchange for freedom for the officials. The GST officials communicated the same to their higher officials, who immediately alerted the police.

Based on this information, around 10:30 am, all the police stations under Hyderabad and Cyberabad commissionerate limits were alerted. “We have launched a vehicle check and intercepted the four-wheeler near Rajiv Chowk and rescued the Central Excise GST officials kidnapped by the scrap traders,” the DCP said.

The police apprehended four persons, later identified as Syed Firoz, Muzeeb, Imitiaz and Museer, for their role in the kidnap. One of the scrap traders, Khayum, who is allegedly the mastermind of the abduction, is absconding. Special teams were formed to trace the identity of Khayum. The GST officials also sustained injuries as they were assaulted by the accused. The police are also in the process of ascertaining if the four accused have a previous criminal record, the DCP said.

Reacting to the news of the attack on the officials, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke to Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar over the phone and enquired about the incident. She directed the police to initiate stern action against the accused for kidnapping and assaulting the Central Excise officials.