Bengaluru: DGGI uncovers Rs 3,200 cr GST fraud, two held
Bengaluru, Jan 29 (PTI): The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) in Bengaluru has uncovered a massive GST fraud amounting to Rs 3,200 crore and arrested two people in connection with the case.
A third suspect remains at large, Sucheta Sreejesh, Additional Director General of DGGI Bengaluru zone, said in a statement.
The DGGI’s Bengaluru zonal unit conducted searches at more than 30 locations across Bengaluru and Mumbai, uncovering a complex scam.
The accused created bogus companies with no legitimate business operations, engaged in circular trading to inflate turnover, listed these companies on stock exchanges, and facilitated the fraudulent availing and passing of fake Input Tax Credit totaling Rs 665 crore.
“The total value of fake invoices involved in the scam amounts to over Rs 3,200 crore,” she said.
The investigation uncovered 15 dubious companies with no actual business activity. These firms reported receiving FMCG goods worth hundreds of crores, but only issued invoices for services like IT support, management consultancy, and advertising.
Despite a large number of inward e-way bills, none of the companies had any outward e-way bills. Nine of these companies are even listed on Indian stock exchanges, according to officials.
“Investigation indicates that promoters of such dubious companies resorted to circular trading of fake invoices to inflate turnover, increase the share price, sell the shares subsequently and exit the company, duping common public of their money invested in shares of such companies,” the statement said.
The probe also revealed that GST returns for most of these companies were filed from common IP addresses, suggesting that they were all operated by the same accused.
Further searches at the companies' premises uncovered original documents such as invoices and financial records, stored across several locations, indicating that the same individuals were managing the affairs of multiple companies.
“Considering the magnitude of the fraud and its impact on the common public, the Directorate General of GST Intelligence, Bengaluru Zonal Unit has initiated thorough investigation in the matter,” Sreejesh said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
