During
raids at 12 business establishments located at GIDC-2 Junagadh
this week, department officials discovered that these scrap
dealers issued bills in the names of non-existing companies to
escape taxes.
Also,
the bank accounts they were using for financial transaction
had fake names and addresses, sources in the Sales Tax
department said, adding that the amount of the bogus bills was
to the tune of Rs 71 crore.
“Teams
from Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and Rajkot were pressed into service
in the intensified drive against VAT evasion, which lasted for
48 hours. The teams have unearthed large-scale irregularities
and also recovered some incriminating documents,” said an
official.
Junagadh-based
Sales Tax official V K Ganatra has lodged complaints with the
A Division Police Station against four scrap traders —
Pravin Chhatroda (Sunny Scrap and Krishna Scrap), Naresh
Satwani (S B Traders), Raju Dabh (R P Scrap) and Bharat Vyas
(Krishna Scrap) for VAT evasion.
In
another case, a Junagadh-based official, PB Bhatu has lodged
complaints with the Junagadh taluka police station against six
traders— Siraj Juma (Malek Trading), Taufiq Saiyd (Balaji
Industries), Abdul Rehman (RK Enterprises), Dhiren Purohit (Balaji
Industries), and Muzahid Juma (R K Enterprises).
Cases
have been registered against all the 10 under various
provisions of the VAT Act-2003 and the Indian Penal Code.
Investigation Officer K K Bhudaiya said: “In cases involving
financial irregularities, documentary proof and concrete
evidence are required. Only after collecting documentary
evidences and after completing other formalities we will
arrest the accused.”
So
