UP STF man accused in Rs 15,000-crore GST scam from Haryana

Noida, Feb 28 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), Noida Unit, has arrested a man in connection with an alleged Goods and Services Tax fraud estimated at Rs 15,000 crore, officials said on Saturday.

The accused, identified as Baldev alias Balli (38), a resident of Hisar in Haryana, was arrested from Hisar on Friday evening, they said.

Raj Kumar Mishra, Additional Superintendent of Police (STF, Noida), said, "On Friday at around 7 pm, Baldev alias Balli was arrested by the STF team from Hisar. He was wanted in a GST scam case worth Rs 15,000 crore and was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000." According to the STF, the accused allegedly procured Permanent Account Number (PAN) details of unsuspecting individuals and fraudulently obtained GST registrations in their names. Using these GST numbers, he and his associates allegedly created around 3,500 fake firms and generated bogus GST invoices and e-way bills to fraudulently claim input tax credit, causing substantial loss to the government exchequer.

The matter came to light after a fake firm was allegedly registered using the PAN details of a senior journalist associated with a popular television news programme.

Following a complaint lodged at Sector 20 police station in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, an investigation was initiated and several arrests were made. However, the accused had been absconding since then, officials said.

During interrogation, the accused told investigators that he completed his MBA from Punjab University in 2012 and later started a medical shop, which he shut down due to losses. In 2014, he ventured into used car trading.

He later came in contact with a Delhi-based man, identified as Archit Goyal, who allegedly introduced him to GST-related fraudulent activities, police said.

Multiple cases have been registered against the accused at Sector 20 police station under sections 420 (cheating), 467 and 468 (forgery) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC. He is also named in three other cases, including under the Gangsters Act, officials added.

Further investigation is underway, police said. PTI COR KIS NB NB