Kerala has suspended State GST joint commissioner Prajani Rajan after the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau registered a disproportionate-assets case alleging that she accumulated assets worth ₹2.89 crore beyond her known sources of income over nearly 11 years.
Rajan was suspended late Wednesday from her post as joint commissioner (taxpayer service) at the State GST office in Thevara, Ernakulam. The suspension followed a vigilance director’s report dated September 29, according to the suspension order issued by Secretary (Taxes) N Prasanth.
The case relates to the period from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024. The VACB conducted a preliminary enquiry before registering the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The agency’s action places the state’s tax administration under scrutiny, as the department is responsible for implementing GST rules, supporting taxpayer compliance and administering a major source of public revenue.
According to vigilance sources cited in the report, investigators seized ₹14.10 lakh in unaccounted cash and $788 from Rajan’s residence in Pachalam during a raid. The agency also recovered documents relating to property, title deeds and financial transactions.
The vigilance investigation also identified a fixed deposit of around ₹2.5 crore in Rajan’s name, the sources said. The documents and other materials collected during the investigation are to be produced before the Muvattupuzha vigilance court.
The suspension followed the VACB’s recommendation that Rajan be removed from service temporarily because her continuation in office could hamper the investigation. The order was issued after the vigilance director submitted the report on the case.
A suspension at this stage is an administrative action pending the investigation and does not by itself establish the allegations. The case will depend on the evidence placed before the court and the findings of the ongoing vigilance process. The supplied report does not provide details of any response from Rajan to the allegations.
The development also highlights the role of internal administrative safeguards in revenue departments, where officials handle taxpayer-facing responsibilities and financial records. The investigation’s focus on alleged assets, cash, fixed deposits and property documents means the case will now proceed through both departmental and legal channels.
The recovered documents are expected to be presented before the Muvattupuzha vigilance court as the probe continues. Further action will depend on the investigation and the proceedings before the court.
