DGGI Uncovers Rs 593 Crore Fake Invoice Fraud; Mastermind Arrested in Bengaluru

The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) Belagavi unit uncovered a Rs 593 crore fake invoice racket involving fraudulent input tax credit (ITC) claims worth nearly Rs 235 crore. The investigation targeted premises linked to Star Tax Consultant in Bengaluru, revealing a network using multiple shell GST registrations and online accounting software to generate bogus invoices and e-way bills. Mohammad Saifullah, a registered GST practitioner identified as the mastermind, was arrested on February 24 under Section 69 of the CGST Act. Probes continue to identify further beneficiaries and quantify the fraud's full extent.