The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has implicated a Central GST inspector posted in Delhi as a key accused in a massive tax evasion scandal estimated to be worth Rs 100 crore. The case, registered in Ghaziabad, has taken a dramatic turn with fresh evidence pointing to collusion between the tax official and a criminal syndicate.
Inspector on the Run After STF Uncovers Evidence
Following an intensive probe, the STF named the inspector, identified as Mohit Agrawal, as an accused in the First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Kavi Nagar police station in Ghaziabad. Agrawal is currently absconding, and police teams have been deployed across states to trace and arrest him. The investigation pertains to a large-scale fraud involving bogus firms and the generation of counterfeit e-way bills and invoices.
Prior to uncovering the inspector's role, the STF had already made significant headway by arresting four individuals last Friday. The arrested accused are Delhi-based scrap dealer Hardeep Singh (alias Prince), Jitendra Jha, Punit Agrawal, and Shivam Singh. The syndicate allegedly operated by floating shell companies and creating fake electronic bills to fraudulently claim input tax credit (ITC), causing an estimated loss of nearly Rs 100 crore to the national exchequer.
Bribes for Favours: The Inspector's Alleged Role
During the investigation, crucial digital evidence surfaced, indicating that Inspector Mohit Agrawal provided departmental assistance to the gang in exchange for bribes. A senior STF officer privy to the details stated, "Inspector Agrawal's role has clearly emerged. He was an active part of the syndicate and was, therefore, named as an accused."
Investigators revealed a specific instance involving one of the bogus entities, Adon Automobile, which was linked to accused Punit Agrawal. This firm was suspended by the GST department three months ago but was allegedly restored through the direct intervention of Inspector Agrawal, who reportedly accepted a bribe of Rs 40,000 for the favour.
The STF claims that the inspector collected lakhs of rupees by extending similar illicit help to numerous firms. Critical evidence was recovered from the mobile phone of Punit Agrawal, including WhatsApp chats that allegedly detail conversations about payments and the manipulation of official records.
Widening Probe and Network of Facilitators
The STF's investigation has also uncovered the involvement of other key players in the elaborate scam. A facilitator based in Haryana, identified only as Alok, allegedly supplied fake firms to mastermind Hardeep Singh for a lump-sum commission, enabling the creation of the fraudulent network.
With the inspector now in the crosshairs, the probe is expanding rapidly. The STF has indicated that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are likely as they delve deeper into the syndicate's operations and its connections within the system. The case highlights serious vulnerabilities in the GST framework that are being exploited through sophisticated fraud.
