Taxmen catch buffalo meat, slap Rs 25 lakh in taxes, penalty

The Commercial Taxes department officials in Belagavi have collected Rs 25 lakh in GST levies as well as penalty after intercepting four trucks mounted with freezers that were transporting frozen buffalo meat with armed escort.

The frozen meat was being transported from an abattoir in Belagavi to Tamil Nadu. The enforcement officials assessed the value of meat at Rs 90 lakh.

"Frozen meat attracts 18% in GST, but they were transporting claiming it to be GST-exempt.


We detected the evasion as we have stepped up verification of e-way bills," Joint Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Enforcement) Kadira Raman, who heads Belagavi division, told ET.

The tax authorities have introduced e-way bill system to facilitate speedy clearance of inter-state and intra-state transport of goods.

The Belagavi police, however, have also arrested the armed personnel escorting the vehicles on charges of illegal possession of arms.