12 FURNACES INSPECTED, 60 VEHICLES DETAINED UNDER ONGOING SPREE AGAINST TAX EVADERS: CHEEMA

Chandigarh, August 28:

In continuance with the on-going special drive to detect the Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion in iron and steel industry, the mobile wings of Tax department on Monday inspected 12 furnaces and detained 60 vehicles during a surprise operation at Mandi Gobindgarh.

Disclosing this in a press communiqué issued here, Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said that this operation was conducted by the mobile wings of State Investigation and Preventive Unit (SIPU), Ropar, Patiala, Shambhu and Jalandhar. “The raid was focused on scrutinising vehicles carrying iron scrap and finished goods. Most of the vehicles subjected to action lacked the necessary e-way bills corresponding to the transported goods”, he added.

Revealing further, the Finance Minister said that the further investigations revealed purchases were from non-compliant entities that have not contributed taxes to the government treasury. After a thorough inquiry, these vehicles could face fines exceeding to Rs 2 crore, said Cheema.

Giving stern warning to the tax evaders to immediately stop their illegal activities, Harpal Singh Cheema said that repeated reports of GST evasion by certain firms and trucks have reached attention of the department, thus, clear directions have been issued to the Finance Commissioner (Taxation) Vikas Pratap and Tax Commissioner Arshdeep Singh Thind to randomly plan such surprise inspections to nab the tax evaders.

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