Mangaluru: In a joint operation, Bengaluru and Mangaluru Commercial tax authorities unearthed a major tax evasion racket by private areca traders in the coastal city by faking bills on November 24.
Private traders without shipping areca have shown sales of Rs 62 crores thereby cheating the government to a tune of Rs 1.5 cr in taxes. Traders claimed 2 per cent input credit from the government without conducting any trade. Commercial tax officers formed several teams and carried out investigations in several places including Sirsi, Yellapur, Mangaluru, Puttur, B C Road and found tax evasion by the traders.
It is gathered Mahesh Traders and Vaibhav Traders in Sirsi and Abhinandan Enterprises in Yellapur admitted to the malpractice and traders in DK – Indian Forest Produce Marketing in Mangaluru and Asmi Traders in Puttur – also admitted to it. The racket was run in connivance with six transporters viz. LM Transporters, Manish Transporters, Ocean Cargo, Swaraj Express Cargo, Mahaganapathy Transporters and Ashirwad Transporters.
Around 10 middle men and few transporters are involved in the illegal transactions. Areca has been shipped from Sirsi to Gujarath using fake bills and the traders succeeded in hoodwinking tax authorities.
According to Joint commissioner of commercial taxes B A Naniappa, criminal cases will be filed against all accused and huge fines will be levied on them.