GST Evasion: Taxmen raid tobacco dealers, slap Rs 2.4 cr in taxes, penalty

BENGALURU: The Karnataka Commercial Taxes department has conducted a series of raids on undeclared warehouses of tobacco and pan masala products and levied GST and penalty of Rs 2.43 crore in 59 cases. The raids were conducted in June and July, Commercial Taxes Commissioner MS Srikar said in a press release.

A warehouse not declared by a dealer to the GST authorities is considered unlawful by the tax authorities. The department is keeping a close watch on transportations of pan masala and other tobacco products and will initiate stringent action on dealers and transporters violating GST laws, besides recommending cancellation of registration of goods vehicles used for such transportation, Srikar said.

The raids took place in Bengaluru Urban & Rural, Tumakuru, Kolar, Ramanagar, Chikkaballapur, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Mangaluru, Udupi, Shivamogga, Hassan, Chikkamagalur, Bellary, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Hubballi, Sirasi, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Raichur, Belagavi, Bagalakote and Vijayapura districts.