Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday launched a major crackdown in connection with a ₹750 crore Goods and Services Tax (GST) scam, conducting simultaneous raids across eight locations in three major cities — Ranchi, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
According to sources, six premises were searched in Ranchi alone, including a flat at Krishna Apartment in the PP Compound area. ED teams began their operation early in the morning, moving out from the agency’s office on Airport Road and initiating searches at pre-identified locations.
This marks the second phase of the investigation into the massive GST fraud, which allegedly involved large-scale fake billing through shell companies to defraud the government. Officials said the scam exploited the Input Tax Credit (ITC) mechanism using bogus invoices, causing significant revenue loss to the exchequer.
The latest round of raids is said to be focused on new individuals linked to the Shiv Kumar Devda syndicate. Earlier, in the first phase of the operation, the ED had arrested four people, including Shiv Kumar Devda from Kolkata and Amit Agarwal alias Vicky Bhalotia from Jamshedpur. Interrogation of the accused revealed extensive use of fake documents and paper transactions with no actual exchange of goods or services.
Investigations revealed that fraudulent trade activities were shown on paper, and based on these fake documents, illegitimate ITC claims were made. Acting on leads obtained during the earlier phase, ED has now expanded its probe and further arrests are likely in the coming days.
