The Maharashtra Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) booked a Sales Tax officer along with 16 traders for allegedly causing losses of Rs 175.93 crore to the state government, the ACB said on Friday. The accused officer, identified as Amit Giridhar Lalge (42), allegedly allowed 16 traders to make tax returns claims of Rs 175.93 crore even though they did not make any GST payments. An ACB officer said the alleged scam took place between August 2021 and March 2022 at the state Goods and Service Tax (GST) department building in Mazgaon. It was after the GST department conducted an audit that they found that the GST tax returns being disbursed was not in line with the GST that had been paid by these 16 traders. By processing these returns and disbursing money to 16 traders, Lalge caused a loss of Rs 175.93 crore to the Maharashtra government, the official said.

Source: Indian Express March 03, 2024 04:44 UTC