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Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, May 24
The Income Tax Department has unearthed tax evasion of hundreds of crores of rupees by rice millers after it seized bogus sale and purchase bills. A commission agent, identified as Hitesh, allegedly provided millers with bogus bills. In return, he got one to two per cent commission.
The tax evasion came to light on Monday when a team of the department raided Hitesh’s shop in the old grain market here as part of a survey operation. Besides bogus bills, Rs 1.11 crore and several documents, including signed blank cheque books of Delhi-based bogus firms, were seized.
Now, the investigation wing of the department has taken over the survey operation. It is scrutinising documents and ascertaining the source of cash.
“Rice millers evaded VAT and mandi tax, which is 7 to 8 per cent, causin g loss to the exchequer,” said Vandana Mohite, Joint Commissioner, Income Tax, Karnal range.
“The entire operation is being conducted under the guidance of KC Jain, Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, North-West Region. He has issued directions to officers of the north-west region to carry out surveys on the basis of refund and self-assessment analysis, following which the department unearthed tax evasion,” she said.
The survey operation was conducted under the supervision of Sunita Puri, Chief Commissioner, Income Tax, Panchkula, and PS Tomar, Principal Commissioner, Income Tax, Karnal.
“The Principal Commissioner has converted the survey operation into a search operation. A team of investigation wing searched the arhtiya’s shop today,” Mohite said, adding that the department would verify the bank accounts and cheques to identify persons who evaded tax.
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