Ex-accountant of firm under Vigilance scanner arrested
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 13
The Vigilance Department, UT, has made the first arrest in a tax evasion scam unearthed in the Excise and Taxation Department.
The accused, identified as Vipin Mishra, used to work as an accountant with a company under the radar of the excise department for VAT evasion.
Sources said Mishra was sacked from the company on the day an FIR was lodged in connection with the scam in August.
The accused is in police remand. The police said he was being interrogated to identify the employees of the Excise and Taxation Department involved in the scam.
The scam had come to light during a hearing in a case by UT Adviser Parimal Rai. Suspecting a foul play on seeing a one-page order without any detail, the Adviser had asked the Excise and Taxation Department officials to probe the matter. The entries were made over a period of two years without the knowledge of senior officials. All settlement orders were issued in the same manner and even the language used in them was almost same.
During the investigation, it was found that the masterminds used the same modus operandi in all 936 cases of fake entries. The persons involved in the racket first approached the companies assuring them of the settlement of their returns. With the connivance of employees of the taxation department, the settlement orders were issued.
While the companies did not pay tax to the department, it was shown as paid in the department records.
The dealers have denied their involvement in the scam, which may be to the tune of Rs 150 crore.
