DGGI busts Rs 593 crore fake invoice fraud; mastermind arrested in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): In a major crackdown on GST fraud, the Belagavi zonal unit of the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has unearthed a fake input tax credit racket worth approximately Rs 593 crore, officials said.
The action followed an investigation into a suspicious GST registration, which led to multiple searches on premises linked to Star Tax Consultant in Bengaluru, the DGGI said in a statement.
"The searches exposed a well-organised network engaged in issuing fake invoices without any actual supply of goods or services, enabling wrongful availment and passing on of input tax credit (ITC) amounting to nearly Rs 235 crore," the statement said.
Preliminary investigation revealed that numerous GST registrations were being operated by the accused solely for generating bogus invoices and e-way bills to facilitate fraudulent ITC claims by the ultimate beneficiaries.
The accused systematically used online accounting software to record and monitor transactions routed through several shell entities with no genuine business activity.
The statement said that Mohammad Saifullah, a registered GST practitioner identified as the mastermind of the operation, was found to be actively managing multiple non-existent and shell GSTINs and orchestrating the issuance of fake invoices and e-way bills in exchange for commission calculated as a percentage of invoice value.
"On being confronted with incriminating evidence, he admitted to his role in the fraudulent scheme. Saifullah was arrested on February 24 in Bengaluru under Section 69 of the CGST Act, 2017," the statement said.
Saifullah was produced before a special court for economic offences in Bengaluru, which granted transit remand for his transfer to Belagavi.
He was subsequently presented before the Judicial Magistrate First Class-4 court in Belagavi, which remanded him to judicial custody.
A probe is underway to identify the additional beneficiaries and quantify the full extent of the fraud, the DGGI said.
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Kerala Imam's call to open mosques for Attukal Pongala devotees goes viral
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The appeal of Palayam Imam V P Suhaib Maulavi to open mosques and Muslim houses to Hindu devotees on the upcoming Attukal Pongala festival day here has gone viral on social media platforms, with many netizens describing it as the example of the real Kerala story.
Attukal Pongala, which falls on March 3 this year, is considered one of the largest women gatherings in the world, in which lakhs of women, cutting across ages, gather in the capital city to take part in the festivities.
Maulavi, during his Friday sermon, urged the members of the Muslim community to extend hospitality to Hindu devotees arriving in the city for the Pongala festival.
In his address, he said that although Attukal Pongala is associated with a different faith and Muslims do not take part in its rituals and ceremonies, the occasion presents an opportunity to serve as gracious hosts to the thousands of women and children who visit Thiruvananthapuram as guests.
"Like last year, Pongala is being observed during the holy month of Ramadan this time as well. We must share the spirit of joy, fraternity and love that defines Ramadan with our sisters and their children who come here for Pongala," he said.
Maulavi called upon the community to arrange drinking water and Ramadan food items for the devotees and to ensure facilities for their rest.
"Arrangements should be made for their rest. Our mosques and homes should be opened to them. This is an occasion to openly demonstrate our love and brotherhood," he said.
Maulavi further stressed that the growing Islamophobia and hatred in the country and the world can be countered effectively only through love and fraternity.
He described the festival as an ideal opportunity to reinforce the message of harmony.
The Muslim cleric's speech soon went viral on social media platforms.
Cutting across religion, people shared his video clippings on various platforms and hailed his gesture as an example of the real Kerala story, harmony and brotherhood among different religions and communities in Kerala.
His appeal assumed significance in view of the ongoing row over the "Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond" movie.
