Key accused in GST fraud in police net

Noida: Just 29 years old, Vikas Dabas, was managing the transactions of the gang that pulled off a nearly Rs 15,000-crore GST fraud by using fake Aadhaar and PAN details to float bogus companies — over 3,000 — and fraudulently claim the input tax credit on their behalf. On Monday, the resident of Delhi’s Mubarikpur was arrested by a team of Noida police.DCP (crime) Shakti Avasthy, who is leading the investigation in the case since the gang was busted in June last year, said Dabas’s name has emerged several times during the interrogation of the 29 people arrested in the case so far. “One of the prime suspects, Dabas came in touch with the masterminds of the gang, including Anchit Goyal and Arjit Goyal, about four years ago and quickly became their man Friday, doing their odd jobs. He also looked after the financial dealings of the gang,” the DCP said.The accused would also create fake documents for the gang, like Aadhaar cards, Pan cards, rent agreements and electricity bills, which were thereafter used to create the bogus firms with GST numbers, Avasthy added.“Dabas was also involved in selling and purchasing these firms, thereby causing losses to the government to the tune of thousands of crores. In Oct last year, Noida police declared a reward of Rs 25,000 on Dabas’s arrest,” the officer said.Last week, four plush flats at upscale housing societies in Delhi’s Rohini and Adarsh Nagar were sealed and properties worth around Rs 12 crore were attached by Noida police in connection with the multi-crore GST fraud. The properties, police said, belong to four suspected masterminds — Arjit Goyal, Rohit Nagpal, Anchit Goyal and Pradeep Goyal — of the gang. All four are currently absconding.On Feb 19, a local court issued 21 warrants to attach properties of the seven absconders —Vikas Dabas, Kunal Mehta and Baldev alias Balli besides Anchit, Pradeep, Arjit and Rohit — under CrPC Section 83 (attachment of property of person absconding).“On Feb 21, our team attached the properties of Arjit and Rohit in Rohini’s Sector 13, while the properties of Anchit and Pradeep in Adarsh Nagar were attached on Feb 22. In all, properties of the seven absconding suspects, cumulatively worth over Rs 25 crore, have been identified and will be attached soon.Previously, police and the GST department froze tax benefits worth Rs 4,000 crore that were claimed on behalf of fake companies linked to the case. Some of the shell companies had even shown import-export business with companies based in countries like Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines. The suspects has been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating), 467, 468 and 471 (all related to forgery), 120 B (party to criminal conspiracy), police said.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.