GUWAHATI: The Assam State GST Department and the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police have arrested two persons from Kolkata in connection with an alleged fake Input Tax Credit (ITC) scam involving tax evasion of more than ₹50 crore.
The arrested persons have been identified as Vivek Kumar Gupta of Kolkata and Surajit Barman of Baksa district. They were apprehended following a four-day search operation and are suspected to be linked to a fake ITC network involving accused Hrishikesh Kalita and Trishna Barman.
According to investigators, the accused allegedly operated a network of 15 fake GST firms to fraudulently claim and pass on Input Tax Credit, causing a loss of over ₹50 crore in tax revenue.
The investigation has found that GST registrations were allegedly obtained using PAN and Aadhaar details of individuals without their consent. Vivek Kumar Gupta is suspected of handling financial transactions linked to the alleged racket.
The arrests follow the July arrest of Trishna Barman, a resident of Barama in Assam’s Baksa district, who was apprehended from Siliguri, West Bengal, in connection with the same case. She was brought to Guwahati on transit remand for further investigation.
Barman is accused of creating fake firms, issuing fraudulent tax invoices and facilitating the circulation of fake ITC. She was arrested after a search operation conducted by the GST Intelligence and Enforcement Unit, Assam, with assistance from the STF, Assam Police.
Her brother Surajit Barman has now also been arrested in the case, while another accused, Shubhrajeet Bhattacharjee of Kolkata, remains absconding and is suspected to be a key figure in the alleged fake invoicing network.
The joint operation was led by Monuj Kr Dowari, Superintendent of State Tax, GST Intelligence and Enforcement Unit, Assam, and Kamlesh Singh, Inspector, STF, Assam Police.
The arrested accused are being brought to Guwahati on transit remand. Further investigation into the alleged scam is underway.