Taking advantage of the confusion over GST rules, some traffic policemen in Delhi have allegedly been indulging in corrupt practices, following which, Delhi Traffic Police on Thursday suspended five cops, including an ASI and three Constables.
Sources said that five policemen posted in West Delhi were caught charging "entry fee" from truckers carrying commercial goods after pretending to check their bills to see if the GST had been paid or not.
Refusing to provide their names, a senior traffic officer said that these five traffic policemen have been suspended and departmental action has been initiated against them.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Traffic police have also been receiving frequent complaints from the city's traders. On Thursday, a group of traders representing Chamber of Trade and Industry met Ajay Kashyap, Special CP (Traffic), and demanded action.
A senior official said no traffic policeman can demand to check the GST bills of the goods being brought into the national Capital or transported around here.
He called out to the motorists to immediately report all such cases by the traffic police personnel.
"People should reach us through Twitter, Facebook, our helpline numbers, emails or whatever platform they find convenient. We have instructed the traffic DCPs of all regions to review the situation and conduct surprise checks," said the official
The officer said that the action taken after this malpractice surfaced is being directly monitored by the police commissioner, Amulya Patnaik, and Ajay Kashyap, Special Commissioner (Traffic).
The Goods and Services Tax was rolled out on July 1, ushering a new system of indirect taxes in the country. It is meant to boost growth and scrap local taxes that add to overhead costs and stymie businesses.