Nirmala Sitharaman: 12803 cases of GST evasion registered in Gujarat in four years, 101 people arrested

Central tax officials have filed 12,803 cases of GST evasion in Gujarat during the last four financial years and arrested 101 people. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave this information on Tuesday in the Rajya Sabha. Sitharaman said, "In Gujarat, during the financial year 2021-22 to 2024-25 (till October 31, 2024), the number of GST evasion cases registered by central tax structures is 12,803."

While responding to a question on the number of GST evasion cases in Gujarat during the last three years till October 30, 2024, the minister said that three FIRs were registered under the IPC (now Indian Justice Code, 2023) in such cases and names of eight people are included in these FIRs.

The Union Minister informed that 101 persons have been arrested under the provisions of Section 69 of the CGST Act, 2017 in cases of GST evasion. In response to a separate question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary gave details of GST collection in the last five financial years.

He further said the gross GST collection in 2023-24 was Rs 20.18 lakh crore. Refunds of Rs 2.08 lakh crore were issued. Gross GST revenue in 2022-23 stood at Rs 18.08 lakh crore with refunds of Rs 2.20 lakh crore issued.

Gross collections during financial years 2021-22 and 2020-21 were at Rs 14.83 lakh crore and Rs 11.37 lakh crore, respectively. Refunds amounting to Rs 1.83 lakh crore and Rs 1.25 lakh crore were issued in the said two years, respectively. For the current fiscal, in the period of April to October, gross GST collection touched Rs 12.74 lakh crore and refunds amounting to Rs 1.47 lakh crore were issued, thus leading to net GST collection of Rs 11.27 lakh crore.