Gujarat : GST Department Raids 14 Resorts and Farmhouses in Sasan Gir for Tax Evasion

GIR SOMNATH,GUJARAT : The State Goods and Service Tax (SGST) department has intensified its crackdown on tax evasion, conducting extensive raids on 14 resorts and farmhouses in the Sasan Gir area of Gir Somnath. This operation, which has entered into its second day, is part of a larger effort to address widespread tax evasion in the bustling hospitality sector of the region.

A substantial number of hotel businesses and farmhouses operate in and around Sasan Gir, a popular tourist destination in Gujarat known for its wildlife and natural beauty. The GST department’s raid on these 14 units, located in the Talala division, involved more than 30 staff members and is expected to continue for two days. The investigation is being led by the GST Rajkot wing, with teams of five officers each assigned to various locations, including Talala, Sasan, Bhojde, Haripu, and Borwav.

These raids follow a series of similar operations conducted by the SGST department across the state. Previously, search operations targeted businesses in Ahmedabad, including ice cream parlors, juice vendors, bhajiya sellers, and pizza traders. These raids uncovered significant tax evasion, with secret cash transactions totaling Rs. 40 crores. The state-wide crackdown highlighted the extent of hidden sales and unreported income in various sectors.

In Ahmedabad, Surat, and Rajkot, the SGST department investigated 47 business locations, including 24 high-turnover ice cream parlors and juice eateries. These investigations revealed undisguised sales of over Rs. 40 crores, including Rs. 6.75 crores in the bhajiya sector, Rs. 4 crores in pizza sales, and Rs. 30 crores in ice cream and juice sales. The discovery of such large-scale tax evasion underscores the persistent challenge of ensuring compliance within the state’s diverse business community.

The ongoing raids in Sasan Gir are part of the SGST department’s broader strategy to curb tax evasion and ensure fair tax practices. The targeted resorts and farmhouses are under scrutiny for potentially large amounts of undeclared income, which, if confirmed, would add to the department’s recent findings of significant tax discrepancies in various sectors.