Itanagar: Police in Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh, have uncovered a Goods and Services Tax (GST) scam worth Rs. 1.09 crore and arrested two individuals accused of orchestrating the fake invoice racket.
Naharlagun Superintendent of Police Nyelam Nega told reporters on Thursday that the case surfaced after businessman Taju Parang filed an FIR on June 28.
Parang reported that invoices exceeding Rs. 1 crore had been routed into his company’s account from two firms based in Assam’s Tinsukia and Jorhat, without his knowledge or consent.
Investigations revealed that the accused had gained Parang’s trust and fraudulently accessed his GST login credentials.
Using these details, they allegedly struck a deal with the Assam-based firms, promising them a 15 per cent share of profits from selling fake invoices.
Through Parang’s firm, the duo floated bogus invoices amounting to Rs. 1.09 crore, later channelled to the two companies.
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The fraud was flagged when GST authorities noticed unusually high-value transactions from Parang’s inactive business.
Parang, alerted by GST notices, lodged a complaint, leading to swift police action.
The licenses of the two Assam companies have since been suspended. According to police, the accused had already siphoned off nearly Rs. 22 lakh before being caught.
SP Nega cautioned the public against falling prey to such fraudulent schemes. “Always insist on an e-GST invoice, especially while purchasing high-value goods like cement,” he advised.