GST evasion: Excise officials to go on mass leave

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 5

Excise and taxation officials today announced that they would proceed on a two-day mass leave on September 7 and 8 for alleged witch-hunting in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion ‘scam’. The Vigilance Bureau (VB) had informed Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh that the entire fraud was turning out to be a multi-layered scam, spanning across northern states.

The VB had arrested eight officials of the Excise and Taxation Department after registering an FIR against its 15 personnel.

Reacting sharply to the VB’s claims, the Confederation of Associations of Officers (Excise and Taxation) decided that all officials (from the Excise and Taxation Inspectors to the Additional Commissioners) would proceed on a two-day mass leave.

The Confederation of Associations of Officers said during these two days, no work would be done in any of the offices related to the GST and excise. The officials said despite a representation made to the Chief Minister, the Chief Principal Secretary to the CM, the Chief Secretary and the Secretary, VB, on September 3, two more officers were arrested by the VB on Friday.

Sources said the CM had asked the VB to expose the racket and thoroughly probe the matter. The VB is learnt to have identified at least 10 passers (tax-free pass to person who bribed officials), who are the key players in the tax evasion and a common link between traders and the excise and taxation officials.