The fake firms generated invoices worth ₹ 718 crore, i.e. fake purchases were made and business was only on paper, the probe, which was later transferred to the ACB, found.
A rogue tax officer, a trio of lawyers and a few other people masterminded a fraud, swindling ₹ 54 crore from the Goods and Service Tax (GST) Department in the national capital. It was exposed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Delhi Government.
‘The Special 7 And 500 Firms’
A GST officer, three lawyers, two transporters and the owner of a “company” were part of a plot involving 500 fake companies and fake invoices worth ₹ 718 crore to claim GST refunds worth ₹ 54 crore. The 500 companies only existed on paper and were purportedly involved in the import/export of medical goods to claim GST refunds.
‘The Rogue Officer’
Babita Sharma, the GST Officer (GSTO), hatched a plan with 96 fake firms and approved over 400 refunds worth ₹ 35.51 crore between 2021 and 2022. In the first year, only refunds worth ₹ 7 lakh were approved but later the remaining were approved.