New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS): The Delhi government's Trade and Taxes Department has unearthed a cyber-tax fraud totalling Rs 262 crore, happening since 2013 with over 8,700 traders involved, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media, Sisodia said 8,758 traders were part of the fraud where they cracked the IDs and passwords of both the banks and the government and showed that they had paid the taxes without actually doing so.

"The taxes are submitted to the government though 27 banks and the IDs of 13 banks were cracked for the fraud of at least Rs 262 crore.

"This information is based on preliminary scrutiny," Sisodia said.

According to a note issued by Delhi's VAT/GST Commissioner H. Rajesh Prasad, "some of the payments claimed to have been made via banking channels have not been actually received in the government exchequer".

"During the scrutiny/examination, it is noted that this kind of cheating and fraud has been continuing since September 30, 2013, i.e. during Financial Years 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19."

Between September 30, 2013 and September 26, 2018, "a total of 8,758 dealers have been identified who have made 31,027 transactions amounting to Rs 2,62,62,73,327," it said.

"The preliminary scrutiny/examination by the Department reveals that such dealers have executed a criminal conspiracy to cheat and commit fraud to the Government Exchequer.

"A complaint in this regard with all available details have been sent to DCP EOW (economic offences wing), Delhi Police, for registering an FIR and conducting thorough investigation in the matter," it added.

Sisodia said the department got some hints of the fraud three months back during the verification of the credit of the payments made by the dealers registered with the department. Since then, the "authorities were on a high alert".

"The AAP government believes in zero tolerance to any corrupt practice," he added.