The State Commercial Tax Department seized huge amounts of gutkha and pan masala packets being illegally transported in an Odisha State Road Transport Corporation’ (OSRTC) bus. The officials also detained the bus and launched an investigation.
Acting on a tipoff, Commercial Tax officials conducted a raid on the bus and seized as many as 36 sacks containing gutkha packets.
Reportedly, the gutkha packets were being transported to Cuttack from Brahmapur illegally to evade taxes under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) law.
Joint Commercial Tax Officer Parshuram Kanhar said, “We conducted a search in the bus and seized 36 packets of illegal gutkhas being transported to avoid paying tax under the GST.”
“As per the GST guidelines, there must be supportive documents but it neither contained any invoice nor any way bill, so the bus was detained. Necessary action would be taken after a detailed valuation and probe,” Kanhar added.
Interestingly, there was no passenger travelling in the Government bus.
The driver and conductor of the bus have been detained for interrogation. Further investigation is on into the incident, said sources.
