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

New Delhi| Central tax authorities registered 12,803 cases of GST evasion and arrested 101 people during the last four financial years in Gujarat. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave this information in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. “In Gujarat, during the financial years 2021-22 to 2024-25 (as of 31 October 2024), the number of GST evasion cases registered on behalf of central tax structures stands at 12,803”, Sitharaman said. 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 in such cases three FIRs were registered under IPC (now Indian Code of Justice, 2023) and these FIRs contain the names of eight people

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 collections in the last five financial years. The Union Minister said that the gross GST collection in 2023-24 stood at Rs 20.18 lakh crore. Refunds worth Rs 2.08 lakh crore were issued. Gross GST revenue stood at Rs 18.08 lakh crore in 2022-23 and refunds worth Rs 2.20 lakh crore were issued.

Gross collections stood at Rs 14.83 lakh crore and Rs 11.37 lakh crore in the financial years 2021-22 and 2020-21. Refunds of Rs 1.83 lakh crore and Rs 1.25 lakh crore were issued during these two years respectively. Gross GST collection in the current financial year (April-October) stood at Rs 12.74 lakh crore, while refunds of Rs 1.47 lakh crore were issued. Net GST collection stood at Rs 11.27 lakh crore.