GST Officers Arrest One for Rs 129 Crore Tax Evasion Through Illegal Manufacture, Supply of Cigarettes

Officers of GST investigation arm DGGI have arrested a Haryana resident on charges of manufacturing and supplying cigarettes illegally and thereby evading taxes of over Rs 129 crore, the Finance Ministry has said. "The Directorate General of GST Intelligence Gurugram Zonal Unit, Haryana has arrested one Satyender Sharma, resident of Haryana, on charges of manufacturing and supplying illegally manufactured cigarettes without the requisite tax paying documents and without payment of applicable GST and cess," the ministry said in a late night statement on Friday. "Apart from these, the investigation also revealed that Sharma was illegally manufacturing cigarettes under the brand names of 'Paris', Pine' 'Black Djarum'' Esse Lights' which are international trademarks owned by other companies.All these cigarettes were being cleared clandestinely without payment of applicable GST/ cess," the ministry said. "Based on documentary evidence and statements recorded of all persons during investigation, it was ascertained that Satyender Sharma is the key person in running this racket of manufacturing cigarettes without payment of applicable GST as well as illegally manufacturing cigarettes under international brand names," the ministry added.