The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has unearthed a massive Rs 100 crore bogus GST refund racket allegedly perpetrated through fake export bills and with the collusion of senior Customs officials.
On Friday, CBI teams conducted coordinated searches at seven locations across Bihar and Jharkhand, including Patna, Purnea, Jamshedpur, Nalanda and Munger. The crackdown follows the registration of a criminal case based on detailed information pointing to fraudulent GST refunds claimed on fake exports of tiles and automobile parts.
High-Level Collusion Uncovered
According to the FIR filed by the CBI, the scam involves senior officers from the Customs Department, most notably Shri Ranvijay Kumar, the then Additional Commissioner, Customs, Patna, and four other former Superintendents, some of whom are now serving as Assistant Commissioners.
These officials are accused of conspiring with a private G-card holder, a network of fake importer-exporter firms, and other unidentified persons to fabricate export documentation. These documents were then used to illegitimately claim GST refunds through Land Customs Stations (LCS) at Bhimnagar, Jaynagar, and Bhittamore.
Bogus Exports, Real Refunds
The investigation revealed that no actual exports took place. However, by manipulating the system using forged shipping bills and invoices, the accused were able to process and receive large GST refunds from jurisdictional tax offices - amounting to nearly Rs 100 crore.
Seizures and Recovery
During the raids, CBI officials recovered:
- 7 gold bars, each weighing 100 grams
- Incriminating documents
- Multiple mobile phones suspected to contain digital evidence linked to the case
A case has been registered under the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act, citing charges related to criminal conspiracy, corruption, and fraudulent financial transactions.
Investigation in Progress
CBI officials confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with a focus on:
- Unraveling the money trail
- Identifying the full extent of the bogus exporter network
- Tracing GST refunds already disbursed
- Examining complicity of other public servants and private entities
This case adds to growing concerns over the misuse of the GST refund mechanism, particularly via fraudulent export claims, and highlights the urgent need for robust verification mechanisms and inter-agency coordination to prevent such scams.
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