Media Release

Mangaluru, Mar 19: As a part of the drive against fake invoice racket, careful analysis of documents and digital returns filed was carried out by the officers of Mangaluru Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST), preventive unit. Two people were arrested on Thursday March 18.

Analysis indicated that, an organised group was issuing invoices without actual supply of areca nut and therefore Investigations including verification and searches were conducted by preventive unit in areas of Sirsi, Puttur, Mangaluru and Chitradurga of various registered premises of suspected members including transporters. Most of the premises were found not existing, completely empty or without any furniture/computers/records etc, indicating that, the premises were being used only as a front to get registration under GST and commence their illegal activities.

Various incriminating documents, telephone recordings were seized by the CGST officers pointing to a GST evasion of around Rs 17 crore against which recovery to the tune of Rs 3.2 crore has been affected by CGST. Two persons accused of being part of the group, Suresh Chatrabhoja Bhanushali and Shrinivas Hegde, owners of M/s Shrinivas Traders and M/s Shyam Traders, were arrested by the officers of CGST, preventive wing and produced before the district magistrate, who directed them to be in custody till 1April 1 as investigation is in progress.

Imamuddin Ahmad, commissioner, CGST, directly supervised the team of CGST officers led by Rajesh Poojari, assistant commissioner and comprising of superintendents Rajgopal K and Pushpendra Singh, and inspectors Parthasarathy Dey, Shailendra Jain, Arpit Kamra, and Abhinav Kumar.