Taxmen raid 100 businesses in Bengaluru's Chickpet area for GST evasion

The commercial taxes department on Thursday conducted a series of raids on about 100 businesses and warehouses in and around the shopping hub of Chickpet in Bengaluru and detected GST evasion and other offences under the GST law.

These businesses are engaged in the trade of textiles, garments, electrical items, home appliances and other consumer goods in the bustling business district of old Bengaluru. Businessmen from small towns visit Chickpet and other shopping streets to buy items at wholesale prices.

The department is scrutinising the financial records and other evidence gathered during the raid to ascertain the quantum of tax suppression, Commercial Taxes Commissioner C Shikha said in a press statement.


The department initiated the investigation based on credible information that some of the businesses at these places were accumulating unaccounted stocks at undisclosed warehouses and selling them without the GST invoices, causing loss of tax revenue to the government.

The department has also imposed a penalty on businesses for non-compliance with display requirements of GST-related information such as signboards and GST registration certificates at their business premises as well as at additional places of business.

The department had drafted 100 officers and 125 inspectors to carry out the raids, Shikha said. This operation, she added, should serve as a reminder to dealers to comply with the GST laws.