Former sales tax officer booked for Rs 4.6 cr GST fraud
Mumbai, April 16, 2025
According to the ACB officials, the officer, in collusion with unidentified persons, used a shell company purportedly from Kurla to obtain a GST refund that the company never paid.
The state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Wednesday booked a former sales tax officer from the Goods and Service Tax department for his alleged involvement in submitting forged documents of a private limited company and obtaining a tax refund of over Rs 4.69 crore.
According to the ACB officials, the officer, in collusion with unidentified persons, used a shell company purportedly from Kurla to obtain a GST refund that the company never paid.
The accused was identified as Gajanan Krishna Lad, who retired from service in 2024.
The officials said that Lad, along with his accomplices, allegedly submitted an application for the company Intercrib Market (APC) Pvt. Ltd. seeking a refund for tax they allegedly paid.
“Some unknown individuals submitted fabricated documents and refund applications between June 2021 and February 2022. Lad misused his position in the GST department to approve the application, through which a refund of Rs 4.69 crores was obtained by the company,” an officer said.
However, in 2022, senior GST officials initiated an inquiry after it came to light that multiple shell companies were being used to obtain the refund.
Subsequently, in early 2024, the GST officials approached the state ACB headquarters in Worli, after which the agency launched a probe and identified Lad’s role.
“The company showed some sales and forged documents to claim that they had paid a large sum of GST, on the basis of which they applied for a refund. Through Lad the money was approved,” an officer added.
After the agency obtained evidence against Lad, a case under relevant sections of cheating forgery and conspiracy was registered under the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act.
“We have not arrested the accused yet because our probe is still underway. We are trying to understand whether Lad received kickbacks for approving the refund or if he is the mastermind in the whole crime,” an officer added.
[The Indian Express]
