Two men have been arrested in Bihar for allegedly committing a massive Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud amounting to Rs 100 crore. The two accused, identified as Ashutosh Kumar Jha and Vipin Kumar Jha, were apprehended by police in Darbhanga. The authorities are also investigating a possible link to Pakistan after the discovery of certain suspicious connections during the probe.
GST Fraud Details
The accused used a shell company named Siddhi Vinayak Trading, which was registered in Arunachal Pradesh, to carry out the fraudulent activity. They reportedly created a fake invoice worth Rs 658 crore and subsequently filed for GST returns, through which they illegally received Rs 99.31 crore. This fraudulent money was withdrawn and embezzled by the suspects and their associates.
Investigation and Arrest
The two arrested men were produced before a Darbhanga court, where they were granted transit remand and subsequently transferred to Arunachal Pradesh. The police believe that the fraud was part of a larger scheme involving multiple people, some of whom remain at large. Authorities are working hard to track down the remaining suspects.
Pakistan Link Under Investigation
Adding a layer of complexity to the case, the police have uncovered evidence suggesting a possible Pakistan connection. The accused reportedly used the name and image of Sachin Meena, who is associated with Seema Haider—an individual who entered India from Pakistan. The police are now looking into whether the fraud is linked to any networks operating in Pakistan, which could widen the scope of the investigation.
Shell Company Involvement
Siddhi Vinayak Trading, the shell company used in this scam, played a crucial role in facilitating the fake invoices. The company was registered in Arunachal Pradesh but had no real business operations. Instead, it was set up solely to defraud the GST system. The accused used this company to generate and process fake invoices, making the entire operation appear legitimate to authorities.
The case is ongoing, with authorities delving deeper into all aspects of the fraud, including the possibility of foreign involvement. As the investigation continues, the police are also examining the financial transactions of the accused to trace how the embezzled funds were used and whether they were laundered through other means.