DGGI Chandigarh busts Rs 30-cr fake ITC scam; mastermind held
The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), Chandigarh Zonal Unit, has unearthed a major fake Input Tax Credit (ITC) racket involving bogus invoices and non-existent supplies. The alleged mastermind, Manmohan Singh, has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
Officials said the racket revolved around several shell firms — M/s JHA and JHA Enterprises, M/s Goyal Trading Agency, M/s MAA Vaishno Enterprises, M/s SS Enterprises, M/s PC Techno Solutions, and M/s PMI Smelting Private Limited — which were primarily issuing fake invoices for zinc products. The estimated quantum of fraudulent ITC is currently pegged at Rs 30.21 crore and is likely to increase as the investigation progresses.
Preliminary findings revealed that Manmohan Singh not only floated these bogus entities but also orchestrated the issuance of fake invoices to generate and avail ineligible ITC. He is also alleged to have coordinated banking transactions and cash movements in exchange for commissions, in collusion with other individuals who are now under the scanner.
Given the scale of the fraud and the possibility of evidence tampering, Singh was sent to judicial custody.
In a statement, the agency said the case underscores the department's commitment to tackling tax evasion and maintaining the integrity of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system. 'Fraudulent ITC claims through fictitious invoicing not only distort market competition by disadvantaging genuine taxpayers but also result in significant revenue loss to the exchequer,' the DGGI said.
Officials warned that such activities undermine the transparency and equity of the GST regime, affecting the government's ability to fund public welfare schemes, infrastructure, and development initiatives.
The DGGI added that it is intensifying enforcement through technological surveillance and strategic intelligence gathering to detect and deter such frauds. Inter-agency collaboration and public awareness are also being emphasised as key tools in combating economic offenses.
Further investigation is underway, and more arrests and recoveries are expected.
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