|Last night, teams of the State GST department raided different places in Ludhiana, Punjab. GST officials first raided Bhamian Road, after which they raided Civil Lines. Sources have revealed that they have arrested two businessmen in the raid.
Late night, the officials got both the businessmen medically examined at the Civil Hospital. The businessmen have been identified as Deepanshu Anand, resident of Bhamian Enclave and Deepak Goyal, resident of Civil Lines.
The GST officials had information that both the businessmen were at home, after which they were arrested. It is suspected to be a case related to tax evasion, but the GST department officials are silent on this matter right now. The officials have seized many documents. Mobile details are being scrutinized. It is expected that they will soon reveal the matter.
3 days ago, a case of tax evasion of 157 crores came to light
Let us tell you that 2 days ago, the Finance Department of the Punjab Government has exposed 20 such firms, which were evading GST worth crores of rupees. These firms very cleverly set up their network so that the names of the real managers could not be revealed.
For this, they targeted common laborers and unemployed people. They were lured with a daily wage of Rs 800 and their PAN card, Aadhar card and other documents were taken by saying that payment will be made in their accounts.
Later, companies were created in fake names with these documents and registered in GST. The bank accounts of these firms were already open. In this way, a total scam of Rs 866 crore has come to light. In this, the GST evasion done in the name of taxi services was Rs 157.22 crore.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema had told in a press conference that so far in the investigation, important evidence like Rs 40 lakh in cash, fake bill book and unsigned check book have been found. A case has been registered in Ludhiana in this matter. Sarabjit Singh is the main accused in this scam, action is underway to catch him.
Key role of Ludhiana accountant
The key role of an accountant from Ludhiana has come to the fore in this scam. He started this fraud in the year 2023. So far, he alone has made fake tax credit of Rs 157.22 crore.
According to an official of the Taxation Department, the accused prepared fake bills in 2023-24 and showed transactions of Rs 249 crore and claimed input tax credit (ITC) of Rs 45.12 crore on the basis of this.
After this, in 2024-25, ITC of Rs 104.08 crore was taken by showing fake turnover of Rs 569.54 crore. In the first two months of this year alone, fake tax credit of Rs 8.01 crore was claimed by showing transactions of Rs 47.25 crore.
The investigation agencies are now keeping an eye on other people associated with this network. Many more names may come out soon.
Case registered against transport company too
Similarly, a transporter company named Maa Durga Road Lines has also committed fraud by making fake e-bills worth Rs 168 crore. This e-bill was made using the certificates of Ludhiana based firms. Which showed the movement of goods from Ludhiana to Delhi. Whereas in reality no vehicle had entered Punjab.
