Mumbai: CGST Bhiwandi Busts Fake Invoice Racket Worth Rs 132 Crore, Accused Arrested

"The accused confessed that he has floated 36 fake GST firms and established a network to pass-on fake Input Tax Credit which is spread across various GST Commissionerate," as per CGST report.

Representational Image | File Image

Source : ANI

New Delhi: The Bhiwandi Commissionerate of Central Goods and Service Tax (CGST) busted a fake invoice racket worth Rupees 132 crores and availing/passing on Input Tax credit of Rupees 23 crore, reported news agency ANI. The main accused in connection with the matter has been identified as Hasmukh Patel who was arrested on September 9. The accused is presently in judicial custody till September 23. 

As per CGST report, the anti-evasion wing of CGST Bhiwandi Commsissionerate was investigating various fake firms namely M/s Mectech Steel Trading Private Limited M/s UGSK Trader, M/s World Enterprises, M/s Rolex Enterprises and M/s HHT Enterprises and M/s Yesh Enterprises wherein various direct and indirect links were established between these firms and Hasmukh Patel, reported the news agency. 

The ant-evasion wing of Bhiwandi Commissionerate conducted a search operation based on specific intelligence input at the residential premises of the accused who was wanted in eight of the ongoing investigation cases for his alleged role in the GST fraud. 

"A probe revealed that the accused Hasmukh Patel allegedly created a web of these fake firms, through which they generated fake invoices of Rs 132 crore and availed/passed on fake ITC of Rs 23.16 crore without supplying any goods and services," CGST reports stated. 

"The accused confessed that he has floated 36 fake GST firms and established a network to pass-on fake Input Tax Credit which is spread across various GST Commissionerate," also stated.

Based on material evidence gathered during the investigation, the aforesaid accused mastermind was arrested on September 9, 2022 under section 69 of the CGST Act, 2017 for contravention of section 132 of the CGST Act, 2017.