Directorate General, Intelligence & Investigation (Inland Revenue) Islamabad has arrested two key persons of a registered import/export company involved in tax fraud by importing vegetables and fruits from Afghanistan, but selling coal to cement manufacturers, seeking illegal tax adjustments.
It is learnt on Thursday that the intelligence network of the directorate has been able to detect the tax fraud through verification of tax records with the actual data of supplies to cement manufacturers. A special team worked day and night on the collection of intelligence information resulting in detecting the tax fraud case. The agency has found that tax fraud was committed by using input tax paid while importing vegetables and fruits subsequently adjusted against output tax of coal. Under the guidance of new Director General Intelligence & Investigation (Inland Revenue) Haroon Muhammad Khan Tareen has busted organized gangs and rackets involved in tax frauds in a short span of time.
The accused persons caused huge loss to national exchequer. Brief facts of the case are M/s Jawad Traders Wah Cantt is registered as importers/exporters with Federal Board of Revenue. It imported potato, onion, melons, honey-bee and other vegetables and fruits amounting to Rs 996,856,284 from Afghanistan during last 7 months. The consignments were imported through Torkham. However, it sold coal to leading cement manufacturers. It clearly indicates that persons are involved in massive evasion of tax and committing tax fraud.
The FIR has been lodged against Jarar Haider s/o Ghulam Shabbir resident of Behtar, Fateh Jang, Saad Ullah s/o Sheikh Zafar Ullah Tehsil & District Peshawar, Mudassar, Umar and Wali Muhammad u/s 37A read with section 37B as they committed tax fraud as defined u/s 2(37) of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 punishable u/s 33(11) & 33(13) of the Act. Wali Muhammad and Umar have been arrested and they will be presented before Special Judge (Customs, Anti Smuggling & Taxation) to obtain physical remand. Moreover, raids have been conducted with the help of local police to arrest other accused.
Sources said that a credible information was received by the Directorate General (Intelligence & Investigation Inland Revenue) Islamabad, that the said person and his associates are involved in tax fraud as defined under section 2(37) of the Sales Tax Act,1990. The company imported vegetables and fruits etc from Afghanistan, however, it supplied coal to cement factories. Thus committed tax fraud by using input tax paid while importing vegetables and fruits subsequently adjusted against output tax of coal.
In order to obtain material evidence, import data of M/s Jawad Traders was scrutinised, wherein it has been observed that the person is supplying coal to cement factories, thus grossly evading sales tax knowingly, fraudulently and dishonestly.