In a significant development, the Maharashtra Anti Corruption Bureau ( ACB ) has registered a case against a Sales Tax officer and 16 traders for allegedly orchestrating a scam that resulted in losses amounting to Rs 175.93 crore for the state government. The ACB disclosed this information on Friday.
The accused officer, identified as Amit Giridhar Lalge (42), is alleged to have permitted the 16 traders to file tax return claims totaling Rs 175.93 crore, despite their failure to make any GST payments.
According to an ACB officer, the fraudulent activities transpired between August 2021 and March 2022 within the premises of the state Goods and Service Tax ( GST ) department building in Mazgaon.
“Lalge, holding the position of Sales Tax officer at GST Bhavan with charge of Ghatkopar Zone, Nodal 11 at the time, purportedly colluded with 16 traders who fabricated rent agreements and acquired GST numbers,” the officer explained.
These traders, who allegedly engaged in tax evasion, submitted 39 applications seeking Rs 175.93 crore in tax returns. Lalge, intentionally neglecting the apparent discrepancies in the GST portal, failed to verify the legitimacy of these claims, the officer added.
The irregularities came to light during an audit conducted by the GST department, revealing a misalignment between the tax returns disbursed and the actual GST payments made by the traders. Subsequently, a formal complaint was lodged with the ACB, granting authorization for an investigation.
By approving these misleading returns and disbursing funds to the 16 traders, Lalge is accused of causing a staggering loss of Rs 175.93 crore to the Maharashtra government, as per official sources.
Lalge and the 16 traders now face charges of cheating, forgery, and other offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code. Despite the severity of the allegations, no arrests have been made in connection with the case thus far. The investigation is ongoing.
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