The Bureau of Investigation Economic Offences (BIEO) on Monday arrested a businessman from Guwahati for allegedly evading Goods and Services Tax (GST) amounting to over Rs 22 crore under several sections of Central Goods and Services Tax Act 2017.
The accused is Subhash Kumar Singh, 41, of Fatashil Ambari area in the city. He is the proprietor of SK Sales located at Fancy Bazar in the city. The accused evaded a total of Rs 22,77,13,211.
BIEO superintendent of police Manmohan Boro told TOI that it was the first such incident in the state where a person has been arrested for evading GST.
“Based on inputs, Assistant commissioner of state tax Satayajit Bhuyan and superintendent of state tax Manoj Pandey conducted an enquiry and inspection of SK Sales. The firm dealing in pan masala, chewing tobacco, killer agarbatti etc was found to have indulged in large scale tax evasion for the past two years during the investigation,” the SP said.
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He said that on the basis of the arrest warrant issued by the Principal Commissioner, State tax, BIEO arrested the accused from his residence on Monday.
A mobile phone, a laptop and many incriminating documents have been seized by the BIEO.
The accused has been booked under sections 132 (1)(i) and 134 of the CGST Act 2017.
“As per the provisions of CGST Act 2017, GST evasion of more than Rs 5 crore entails compulsory arrest of the tax evader. The offence is cognizable and non bailable,” the SP said.
The accused was produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (Metro) on Monday. The court sent him to judicial custody.
The SP said though the accused’s advocate moved a bail petition, it was rejected by the court.