ED raids 9 locations in UP, Haryana over ₹10.28 crore bogus ITC fraud
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Lucknow Zonal Office, on Monday, 24 August conducted searches at nine premises across Muzaffarnagar and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and Faridabad in Haryana, targeting an alleged money laundering network linked to fraudulent Input Tax Credit (ITC) transactions. The raids are part of an ongoing probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The Alleged Fraud Network
According to officials, the investigation centres on M/s Jambudwip Exports & Imports Ltd., an entity allegedly involved in generating and circulating bogus ITC through fabricated invoices and E-way bills — with no actual movement of goods corresponding to the documentation. Investigators suspect the company and associated entities created a web of fictitious transactions to siphon tax credit from the government exchequer.
Notably, the probe uncovered extensive circular transactions, rapid layering of funds, and cash withdrawals routed through multiple bogus or non-existent entities — classic indicators of shell-company-based money laundering.
Scale of the Alleged Loss
GST authorities have reportedly established that ₹9.63 crore in ITC was fraudulently availed, while ₹10.28 crore in ITC was passed on, causing a wrongful loss to the government exchequer. Under the PMLA, these amounts constitute proceeds of crime, officials said. The use of non-existent entities to withdraw cash further points to a structured layering operation, according to investigators.
What the ED Is Looking For
The searches are aimed at tracing the alleged proceeds of crime and identifying individuals and entities that may have benefited from the suspected network. Investigators are also gathering documentary and digital evidence to map the complete structure of the fraudulent ITC network and establish the roles of various beneficiaries involved in the transactions.
What Happens Next
Further details from the searches and the broader investigation are awaited, officials said. The ED's Lucknow Zonal Office is expected to issue formal findings once the searches conclude and evidence is analysed. Arrests or asset attachments under the PMLA could follow if investigators establish a direct link between individuals and the alleged proceeds of crime.