Gujarat : GST Raids Uncover Rs.25 Cr Evasion by Amizara Traders in Vapi

Vapi | Gujarat —-The Goods and Services Tax (GST) department has uncovered a massive ₹25 crore tax evasion racket involving Amizara Traders, operating across Vapi, Surat, and Vasai. The raids, carried out on September 4 and 5, exposed a sophisticated web of dual accounting, unregistered premises, and clandestine supplies of plastic disposable items such as plates, cups, and spoons.

The businesses were all controlled by Vipul Kantilal Dhami, the sole proprietor of the entities, who has now been arrested under the stringent provisions of the CGST Act, 2017.

Dual Ledgers and ‘Kachha’ Challans

According to officials, the firms maintained two parallel accounting systems. One was run on Tally software, reflecting legitimate GST-compliant transactions, while the other was a cloud-based ledger designed to conceal cash-based purchases and sales.

Investigators also seized “kachha challans” bearing a distinct logo, used to move goods discreetly without raising GST invoices. Further, unregistered storage facilities at Palghar and Vapi were discovered, where bulk consignments were handled outside the purview of taxation.

“Such organized tax evasion not only causes huge revenue losses to the government but also gives unfair advantage to dishonest traders over law-abiding businesses,” said a senior GST official involved in the operation.

Evidence and Confession

During the raids, officers seized incriminating digital and physical records, unearthed excess stock, and obtained confirmations from suppliers about cash-based, invoice-less transactions.

On September 15, when confronted with the evidence, Vipul Kantilal Dhami confessed to having made clandestine supplies amounting to a taxable value of ₹138.43 crore, resulting in GST evasion of ₹24.91 crore.

“The case clearly demonstrates deliberate manipulation of accounts and systematic tax evasion. The evidence is irrefutable,” the official added.

Arrest and Legal Action

Given the scale of fraud, the offences fall under Section 132(1)(a) read with Section 132(5) and Section 135 of the CGST Act. These provisions render such acts cognizable and non-bailable.

Dhami was arrested on September 15 under Section 69(1) of the Act and produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Vapi the same day for judicial proceedings.