Two Superintendents of customs department of Mumbai with a police constable duped the businessman over Rs. 80 lakhs for settling the Goods and Services Tax evasion. The police constable promised the businessman that he knew people in the GST department and he could settle the case easily.
In August 2022, the complainant businessman received notices from the Goods and Services Tax authorities asked him to pay ₹3.5 crore towards GST and interest and warned him that he could be arrested if he failed to clear the dues.
The police officer informed the merchant that he knew Customs and GST authorities and could help him resolve his issue. Later, he instructed the merchant to deposit Rs.1.86 crores with the GST division.
Further he demanded one crore in cash as an advance payment for resolving the dispute, stating that the complainant would receive a show-cause notice and that after receiving a response, he would receive the full amount of 1.86 crore back.
The complainant stated that the police constable asked him to pay Rs. 50 lakhs and met the two customs officers. Later he demanded the remaining amount of ₹50 lakh. However, the complaint requested a receipt for the initial payment which was not provided to him. Then the constable introduced the complainants to several senior officials, after which he paid the remaining amount of ₹50 lakh to the constable.
The complainant became suspicious that the GST department did not issue any notices and in the month of November he was called and questioned why he did not pay the tax dues. Then the moment the complainant businessman realised he got cheated.
To the GST officials, the complainant recounted the entire situation. Moreover, in the month of December, a Customs officer called him to a hotel and informed him that, although he was not aware of the $1 crore, he and his other colleague in the Customs had received Rs. 35 lakh, and the remaining funds had been spent by them. The customs officer offered the remaining Rs. 20 lakhs to the businessman.
The complainant collected the money and approached the GRP officials. The case was registered against the 3 officers by GRP officials and the same will be transferred to the concerned jurisdiction.
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