GUWAHATI: The Assam STF and State GST Department have arrested eight persons in connection with an alleged fake Input Tax Credit (ITC) fraud involving more than ₹47 crore during coordinated operations in Guwahati, Bihar and West Bengal.
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According to officials, simultaneous raids were conducted at three locations late on June 14 in what the department described as its first operation carried out outside Assam.
Investigators alleged that two GST-registered firms engaged in the bitumen business, M/s Aida Bitumex and M/s Barrel Bitumin, used fake invoices to fraudulently avail ITC benefits.
Three persons, Shahina Sultana, Shahbaz Haider and Md Nausad, were arrested from Patna in Bihar in connection with M/s Aida Bitumex.
Two others, Deepak Shaw and Rajendra Shaw, were arrested from West Bengal in connection with M/s Barrel Bitumin.
From Guwahati, authorities arrested advocate Amit Jha, Ajay Kr Yadav and Chandan Kumar. Officials alleged that Jha was one of the masterminds involved in the case.
The GST Department said the investigation uncovered alleged tax evasion linked to the bitumen trade and that several others connected to the business remain under investigation.
Further investigation is underway.