Babudom panics amid possible ED probe in GST fraud case
Gandhinagar: Investigation into an alleged multi-crore GST fraud recently unearthed in Gujarat has set a cat among the pigeons in the state babudom, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) now likely to join the probe. The Ahmedabad crime branch has uncovered a tangled web of fraudulent transactions involving 220 fake firms, raising suspicions about money laundering.
The officers also found "sensitive" messages exchanged between senior IAS and IPS officers and Mahesh Langa, a journalist with a national daily, who is currently in 10-day custody related to the case. The ED's entry is possibly necessitated by the need to unravel the maze of shell companies and trace the money trail.
This development has created anxiety among state officials as ED's involvement could broaden the scope of the investigation.
"We have shared details of the case with the ED and the Income Tax department, as the accused individuals have floated dummy firms possibly to launder money," said a senior police officer. The ED has started a preliminary inquiry into the case. The central agency is likely to register an enforcement case information report (ECIR).
