In a major crackdown, the Raipur GST department seized a truck loaded with approximately 40 tons of TMT bars, valued at ₹30 lakh, on Tuesday night. The truck was intercepted near Dharsiwa, and the goods were confiscated due to the absence of valid documentation.

Details of the Seizure

Around 8 PM on Tuesday, the State GST team stopped the truck near Dharsiwa and questioned the driver about the cargo. The driver was unable to provide invoices or any valid documents for the iron-loaded TMT bars. The truck was subsequently seized and stationed at Dharsiwa Police Station.

Rajesh Diwan, in charge of Dharsiwa Police Station, confirmed the incident, stating, “The truck was transporting raw materials without proper bills. The GST team is investigating further.”

Ongoing Investigations

The GST department has initiated a detailed inquiry to identify those involved in the alleged tax evasion. Officials are questioning individuals linked to the seized consignment.

Recurring GST Crackdowns

This is not the first instance of such action by the GST department: Just a week ago, the Raipur GST team intercepted a truck in Bemetara carrying 40 tons of iron without proper documentation. The consignment was reportedly linked to a prominent Raipur-based steel trader.

Focus on Tax Evasion in the Steel Sector

The GST department has been actively targeting the illegal trade of TMT bars and raw materials. Inspections suggest widespread transactions on unregistered bills, enabling large-scale tax evasion.

However, there are growing concerns that the department’s actions have primarily targeted smaller players, with no significant action against larger entities. This has raised questions about the effectiveness of the crackdown in addressing the core issues of systemic tax evasion in the steel sector. The GST department continues to monitor the sector closely, with further actions expected in the coming days.