GST Fraud of Rs 350 Cr Detected in Punjab

The Punjab Goods and Services Tax (GST) department has claimed to have busted a bogus billing scam of Rs 350 crore. In the times of COVID-19 when industry and policymakers are setting the tone for a strong comeback for the economic revival, this GST scam in the Punjab State will surely be going to make a dent.

According to an official, a team from the department had conducted raids at four places in Fatehgarh Sahib’s Mandi Gobindgarh and Amloh leading to the arrest of three persons. "During an investigation by the department, it was established that a network of firms was engaged in issuance of fake invoices and passing the bogus input tax credit to various firms in the state,'' said Assistant Commissioner Sunita Batra told media persons.

The department unearthed in its investigation that approximately 10 firms had in connivance with each other issued fake invoices worth Rs 350 crore, involving a tax amount of Rs 45 crore.

There was a cash withdrawal of Rs 70 crore from various banks.

These firms have issued bills without any inward or outward supply of goods and there is a direct loss of Rs 45 crore to the state exchequer, Batra said.