DEHRADUN: The Special Investigation Wing (SIB) of Uttarakhand’s State Tax Department raided an iron‑steel trading company in Dehradun and uncovered fake billing that enabled the firm to claim about ₹15 crore in unlawful input‑tax credit (ITC). The preliminary findings point to systematic GST evasion via bogus freight and supply records.
Phoney Bills, Phantom Freight History
The investigation, overseen by State Tax Commissioner Sonica and led by Joint Commissioner Ajay Kumar, revealed that the steel firm claimed ITC without delivering any physical goods. Detailed cross-verification found that e‑way bills showed movement of bulk consignments through toll-free routes, while GPS-tracked vehicles were off-route. Shockingly, some bills reported 15–20 tonne consignments via small vehicles like e‑rickshaws and cars, which are physically implausible and clearly fabricated.
During the raid, officials managed to recover ₹1.35 crore in unpaid tax on the spot. Deputy Commissioner Ajay Birthare confirmed the firm immediately paid this amount as the larger recovery drive commences. Investigators are now analysing GST returns, invoices, and business documents to calculate the outstanding liability.
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Full Recovery Underway, Deep Investigation Initiated
Senior officers, including Deputy Commissioners D.R. Chauhan, Yogesh Mishra, Suresh Kumar, and Assistant Commissioner Tikka Ram Chanyal, conducted the raid. The department’s forensic audit will continue to quantify the scale of the fraud and initiate recovery of the remaining ₹13.65 crore plus penalties. Any officials or employees found complicit in issuing bulk fake invoices will be held accountable under the GST Act.
This action follows a pattern of aggressive tax enforcement in Uttarakhand, similar to previous investigations in battery recycling and transport sectors that uncovered ₹5 crore in fake ITC claims via bogus billing schemes. The department’s data‑driven monitoring and real‑time verification of transport logs have significantly boosted detection and deterrence.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change