GST inspector named in Rs 100 cr evasion scam

LUCKNOW: A cardinal GST inspector posted successful New Delhi has been named an accused successful a Rs 100-crore taxation evasion racket uncovered by UP's Special Task Force (STF), a lawsuit that investigators said exposed heavy collusion betwixt taxation officials and a web of ammunition firms. Inspector Mohit Agrawal, who is connected the run, is accused of providing departmental extortion and manipulation successful instrumentality for bribes, STF officials said Sunday. Teams person been deployed to hint and apprehension him. The lawsuit registered astatine Kavi Nagar constabulary presumption successful Ghaziabad territory centres connected large-scale GST fraud done bogus firms, fake e-way bills and forged invoices. On Friday, STF arrested 4 accused - New Delhi-based scrap trader Hardeep Singh alias Prince, on with Jitendra Jha, Punit Agrawal and Shivam Singh.

Investigators alleged the syndicate floated aggregate ammunition companies and generated fake e-way bills to illegally assertion input taxation credit, causing estimated nonaccomplishment of astir Rs 100 crore to govt.

During the probe, grounds emerged showing inspector Agrawal allegedly actively aided the operation. STF officers said helium accepted bribes to reconstruct suspended firms, shield fake entities from scrutiny and manipulate records.

One specified firm, Adon Automobile, allegedly linked to Punit Agrawal, was suspended astir 3 months agone but restored aft inspector Agrawal's intervention. Investigators clai-med helium accepted Rs 40,000 for the favour. STF besides pointed to the relation of Alok, a Haryana-based facilitator who allegedly supp-lied fake firms to Hardeep Singh for a lump-sum commission. WhatsApp chats recovered from Punit's telephone allegedly item discussions connected payments and grounds manipulation, officers said, and indicated much arrests were apt arsenic investigators widen the nett crossed UP and neighbouring states.