A case has been registered against a local businessman, Avnish Jain, for protesting against a challan issued by the GST ( Goods and Services Tax ) office in Ghaziabad. The complaint was filed by Assistant Commissioner of Flying Squad Seven, Antriksh Mat, accusing the iron trader and 20-30 unknown individuals of obstructing official work and behaving inappropriately with government officers.
According to sources, the dispute began when Jain, an iron dealer, was fined ₹50,500 for a violation related to the transportation of goods. Jain argued that the fine was unjust as he possessed all necessary documents. He claimed that the vehicle was wrongfully seized by RTO ( Regional Transport Office ) officials despite showing the paperwork. Frustrated with what he viewed as harassment, Jain took his protest to the GST office, where he refused to pay the fine and allegedly created a disturbance.
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GST Additional Commissioner Grade-1, Dinesh Kumar Mishra, issued a statement explaining that the trader’s vehicle was transporting goods with an expired e-way bill. The e-way bill, which must accompany goods in transit, had expired. Mishra clarified that traders could extend an expired e-way bill themselves to avoid fines, but since this was not done, action was taken under the GST Act.
During the investigation, it was confirmed that Jain’s vehicle was caught with an expired e-way bill, along with 170 kg of goods in excess. Reportedly, When Jain and his relatives, along with members of the Iron Traders’ Association, reached the GST office, a protest ensued. Jain reportedly became agitated, shouted at officials, and eventually staged a sit-in protest by partially undressing, intending to put pressure on the authorities.
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A video of the incident, showing Jain arguing with officials, went viral on social media, leading to mixed reactions. Some social media users expressed support for Jain, accusing the authorities of harassment. One user commented that “people are being harassed a lot like this, and the government is saying that corruption is over.” However, the GST department denied the allegations, stating that Jain was given multiple opportunities to pay the fine but instead chose to create a disturbance at the office.
The police have registered a case under relevant sections for obstructing government work and misbehaving with officers. They are currently reviewing the evidence, including CCTV footage, and further legal action will be based on their findings.
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