Rs 25 Crore GST Fraud Culprit Apprehended in Punjab After 5 Year Chase

Punjab Vigilance Bureau Nabs Accused Sammy Dhiman in Rs 25 Crore GST Fraud Case

Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab – In a significant breakthrough, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has apprehended the prime accused, Sammy Dhiman, hailing from Mandi Gobindgarh, for his alleged involvement in a massive Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud scheme. The fraud, amounting to a staggering ₹25 crore, has reportedly caused a substantial loss to the state exchequer. Dhiman had been evading arrest for the past five years, making this arrest a crucial development in the ongoing investigation.

According to a VB spokesperson, the arrest follows the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) on July 5, 2018, at the Mandi Gobindgarh police station in Fatehgarh Sahib district. The FIR was filed under Sections 420, 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 132(1) of the GST Act, 2017. The investigation of this case was entrusted to the vigilance bureau flying squad-1, Mohali, which diligently pursued the case to bring the culprits to justice.

Dhiman and his associates are believed to have meticulously orchestrated a complex GST fraud scheme by creating fictitious firms and generating fraudulent invoices on their behalf. These counterfeit invoices were subsequently sold to legitimate businesses operating in Mandi Gobindgarh and Ludhiana, thereby evading the payment of significant GST dues. The magnitude of the fraud has been estimated at ₹25 crore, posing a severe financial burden on the state exchequer.

In a press release, the VB spokesperson stated, "The accused’s actions have inflicted a substantial financial loss amounting to ₹25 crore upon the state exchequer." This significant financial loss has adverse implications for the government's ability to provide essential services and infrastructure to the citizens of Punjab.

Following his arrest, Sammy Dhiman was presented in court and subsequently remanded into police custody for a period of two days. The VB is expected to continue its investigation to unearth further details of this intricate GST fraud scheme and identify any additional individuals involved in the operation. This arrest serves as a warning to those attempting to defraud the GST system, emphasizing the government's commitment to maintaining the integrity of its revenue collection processes.