In a decisive action against corruption, the Haryana government dismissed Sumitra Godara, an excise and taxation inspector, from service on February 16 after her conviction in a bribery case. The additional sessions court had sentenced her to five years of rigorous imprisonment for her role in demanding bribes to facilitate Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration. Alongside her, Roshan Lal, an excise and taxation officer, and a clerk named Pawan were also convicted and received the same sentence.
The case originated from an incident on May 9, 2022, when the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested the three officials following a complaint by a building material supplier named Mohit. He encountered difficulties in obtaining a GST registration number, which was initially denied due to alleged discrepancies. Upon reapplying, he was directed to meet Godara, who allegedly demanded ₹7 lakh to expedite the registration process.
- Conviction on January 9 — court sentenced Godara and two others to five years.
- Dismissing officials sends a strong message — Haryana government takes a stand against corruption.
- Bribery case dates back to May 2022 — highlighting ongoing governance issues.
In a trap set by the ACB, Godara was apprehended while accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh, which subsequently led to the arrests of Lal and Pawan. The prosecution presented a strong case, resulting in the court finding all three guilty of corruption. Following the conviction, the Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Vinay Pratap Singh, recommended Godara's dismissal, which was swiftly executed.
Moreover, a similar proposal for the dismissal of ETO Lal has been forwarded to the Haryana government, which is expected to act on it soon. The Commissioner has the authority to dismiss inspectors, but ETO dismissals require government approval, which is anticipated to be granted given the circumstances. This case underscores the ongoing battle against corruption within the state’s governance structures, and the actions taken may serve as a deterrent to similar misconduct in the future.
