MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Deputy Commissioner Inland Revenue, Excise Circle, Muzaffarabad, Tasleem Khan, was suspended over facilitating non-custom paid cigarettes smuggling in Azad Kashmir from Kohala, sources said.
Earlier on May 25, Kashmir Digital reported that an Excise and Inland Revenue official released a truck carrying non-custom paid cigarettes worth Rs25 million, stopped at Kohala checkpoint, after receiving bribery.
As per the suspension order, the Secretary Inland Revenue has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Deputy Commissioner Inland Revenue on the grounds of gross misconduct.
The DC Inland Revenue was suspended under “Rule 06 of the Azad Jammu & Kashmir Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1977,” the notification read.
In addition to that, Commissioner Inland Revenue (South Zone) Mirpur, Syed Anser Ali, was appointed as “inquiry officer”.
The Secretary Inland Revenue has directed the suspended officer to immediately report to the Office of the Inquiry Officer.
“The Charge-sheet and Statement of Allegations, duly signed by the Authorized Officer, shall be communicated to the accused separately,” the notification read.
Earlier on May 28, the Inspector Inland Revenue was also suspended for allegedly facilitating non-custom paid cigarettes smuggling.
The Secretary Inland Revenue issued the suspension order of Ishfaq Hussain Rathore, BS-16 officer, posted at Toll Check Post Kohalah, on account of misconduct and negligence.
As per the report, the truck, full of non-duty-paid cigarettes, was en route to Muzaffarabad, and following standard procedure, it was taken into custody at the Chatter Kalas Police Station.
Excise officials posted at the Kohala check post were summoned for further investigation. However, instead of following through with legal action, the truck was quietly released during the night.
Sources told Kashmir Digital that SHO Chattar Kalas Police Station and the Excise officer negotiated a deal and received Rs300,000 and Rs50,000, respectively, to allow the truck to leave.
