The Maharashtra Goods and Service Tax (GST) Department on Friday arrested Anuj Gupta, proprietor of five firms in an alleged Rs 31 crore GST fraud. Gupta was remanded to 14 days judicial custody by a local court.

Officials said that this is the third major arrest by the state GST department since November 2020.

According to officials, Gupta is owns three firms registered under the Maharashtra Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017—Savvy fabrics, Shiv Textiles, and Shakti Textile, and 2 firms registered in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli—Subhlene Fabrics and Shubhmangal Textiles Industries.

“These five firms have shown bogus purchases of more than Rs 272 crore and thereby, have availed bogus Input Tax Credit of more than Rs 31 crore, without actually buying any goods or services,” said an official.

Officials said that the two firms at Dadra and Nagar Haveli have even received a refund of more than Rs 11 crore from the government. It was found that these companies physically possessed only 20% of the total stock.

According to officials, Gupta is owns three firms registered under the Maharashtra Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017 and 2 firms registered in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.