The Assam State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) Department has arrested seven businessmen allegedly involved in moving taxable goods without valid documents. The arrests were made following a series of intelligence-led raids conducted by the department’s Enforcement Wing at key railway transport hubs in Guwahati. The arrested individuals, who own or operate transport and logistics companies, are accused of violating provisions of the Assam GST Act, 2017, by facilitating the movement of goods that were not supported by invoices, e-way bills, or other mandatory documents. “These transporters were moving large quantities of goods without any proper documentation. Their operations appear to be part of a larger racket that involves not only tax evasion but also possible dealings in stolen or illicit merchandise,” said a senior official from the State GST Enforcement Wing.
The crackdown followed several days of coordinated raids at the Azara Railway Yard, Guwahati Railway Yard, and the busy Paltan Bazar Railway Yard, which are critical nodes in the state’s goods movement network. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, enforcement teams monitored freight activity and intercepted suspicious consignments that lacked legal documentation. According to the official press statement, preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused may have been working in collusion with certain railway vendors, consignees, and consignors. The goal: to move goods under the radar, thus avoiding the GST liabilities attached to legitimate trade. “This is not an isolated violation. It points to an organized effort to undermine the tax system by bypassing lawful procedures,” the GST department noted.
Legal proceedings have already been initiated against the arrested businessmen under various sections of the Assam GST Act, 2017, including criminal breach of trust and deliberate evasion of tax. Officials stated that further charges could be added depending on the outcome of ongoing investigations, particularly if links to theft or illegal imports are confirmed.