In shocking news from Punjab, as many as nine GPS trackerswere found fitted in four cars of the mobile wing of the state Goods andServices Tax (SGST) department. The department officials have been tight-lippedabout the matter and the cybercrime unit is alerted.
A complaint has been filed with the police department'scybercrime unit, alleging that the trackers were installed by tax evaders tokeep tabs on department officials' movements. The department has enlisted thehelp of the cybercrime unit to gather information on GPS trackers that use SIMcards.
According to reports, department officials' roles are alsobeing scrutinised because some of the trackers were installed by drilling intothe vehicles, while others were installed beneath the car using magnets.
In one car, four trackers were installed, while in theother, three were installed. A single tracker was installed in the other two.
Sources in the GST Dept confirmed the recovery of trackers. They saud this incident came to ourknowledge during routine monitoring at the mobile wing.
They said they have already filed a complaint with the Ludhiana police'scyber cell to track down people whose names are on the mobile Sim cards foundinside GPS devices. Once this information is obtained, action will be taken,including the filing of a formal complaint against the perpetrators, they added.
Two GPS trackers were discovered in Jalandhar mobile wingvehicles and one in a Patiala mobile wing vehicle during the routine servicingof vehicles in September and November, respectively.
The three incidents of recovery of GPS trackers from taxdepartment vehicles are believed to be the work of tax evaders, particularlymembers of organised gangs comprised of transporters and other individualsinvolved in facilitating the illegal movement of goods without paying tax.
They may have done so to keep track of officers and theirvehicles in order to figure out where officials had set up checkpoints orplanned raids so that passers could take different routes or choose a time whenthe mobile wing teams were away from their office and they could move aroundfreely.
When recent checks failed to produce any results, itreportedly raised suspicions among department officials, following which thetrackers were found. In the last two months, as many as 12 GPS trackers havebeen discovered from three wings - Jalandhar, Patiala and now Ludhiana.
The department has ultimately begun an investigation intothe matter.