In a major development in the ongoing crackdown on fake invoicing and tax evasion, the Special Chief Judicial Magistrate (Economic Offences), Kanpur Nagar, Kumud Lata Tripathi, on Wednesday dismissed the bail application of chartered accountant Lokesh Haseeja of Sonipat, Haryana.
Haseeja was arrested by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), Kanpur Regional Unit, in connection with a large-scale GST evasion case involving fake firms and fraudulent Input Tax Credit (ITC) claims amounting to Rs 79.18 crore. Read the full story here.
According to Special Prosecutor Ambrish Tandon, the case initially began with the arrest of Tushar Raheja from Sonipat on September 13, who had allegedly evaded tax worth ₹5.90 crore using forged bills. During further investigation, the names of two more individuals-Lokesh alias Lokesh Hasija, a Chartered Accountant, and Aman Jindal, an advocate, both from Sonipat-surfaced in connection with the scam.
Investigators revealed that the trio had allegedly created and managed nine bogus firms for the purpose of issuing fake invoices and claiming fraudulent ITC. Haseeja's role, according to the prosecution, involved generating and managing GST returns and invoices for these fictitious entities.
The DGGI presented digital evidence confirming Haseeja's active involvement in the fake invoicing network. It was further alleged that the commission from the fraudulent activities was divided among the trio - with Aman Jindal receiving 50%, Haseeja 25%, and Tushar Raheja 25%.
In his bail plea, Haseeja claimed innocence, arguing that the allegations were fabricated and that he had no direct involvement in the creation of fake firms. However, the prosecution countered that his knowledge of and collaboration with the co-accused was well established and substantiated by evidence.
After examining the case records and digital trail, the court found sufficient grounds to deny bail, observing that the charges were serious in nature and that granting bail at this stage could hamper the ongoing investigation.
The case is part of the DGGI's intensified nationwide campaign against fake GST registrations and fraudulent ITC claims, which have led to multiple arrests of professionals, including accountants and legal practitioners, involved in facilitating tax evasion.
The dismissal of Haseeja's bail plea underscores the government's firm stance against white-collar financial crimes under the GST regime, especially those involving professionals entrusted with compliance responsibilities.
CAclubindia
