MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Inspector Inland Revenue accused of facilitating non-custom paid cigarettes smuggling in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) from Kohala has been suspended.
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 order, the officer has been directed to report to the office of the Commissioner Inland Revenue (North Zones), Muzaffarabad, till further orders.
As per details, Kashmir Digital, on May 25, reported that an Excise and Inland Revenue official released a truck carrying non-custom cigarettes worth Rs25 million after it was stopped by police at the Kohala checkpoint.
The truck was en route from Nowshera 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.
Kashmir Digital made several attempts to contact SHO Shaukat Jameel for comment on the matter, but calls to his number went unanswered.
