60 firms under scanner for fake entry scam

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13

More than 60 firms of the city are under scanner of the Department of the Excise and Taxation in the fake entry scam case, which unearthed recently.

Sources said the department had served notices on the companies to get their assessment done for the past five years. Sources said the scam came to light during a hearing of a case in the court of the Parimal Rai, Advisor to the Administrator.

Suspecting foul play, the Advisor asked the officers of the Excise and Taxation Department to probe the matter. In the initial inquiry, it was revealed that fake entries on computers were made, while assessment papers were not available in the department. After the inquiry, the department handed over the matter to the Vigilance Department for further probe. An officer of the department said while the vigilance would probe the role of the employees in the scam, the department has started the investigations to know the amount of tax evasion and the firms involved.

Sources said entries were made to show that the suspected firms deposited the tax, but it was never deposited with the government.