DSTO arrested in GST Refund Fraud; ACB court denied bail

Vemavarapu Venkata Ramana, the Deputy State Tax Officer (DSTO) of State Taxes, Madhapur-II circle, had his bail petition dismissed by the special court for ACB cases in a GST fraud case.

Venkata Ramana was arrested on May 5 following the reporting of seven incidents of GST fraud to the Central Crime Station (CCS) in Hyderabad on March 6.

An official said, “Ramana conspired with another official to relocate M/s Grow More Electric Vehicles’ main office from Madhapur-II circle to Nalgonda District without telling his superior officer. He received a sanctioned sum of Rs.2.86 lakh after relocating his business and having his associate upload the documentation.”

Venkata Ramana petitioned the Principal Special Judge for the Trial of SPE and ACB Cases in Hyderabad for regular bail. After hearing both parties, Mohd Afroz Akthar, Principal Special Judge for the Trial of SPE and ACB Cases, determined that the case was not appropriate for bail and dismissed the petition.