Bail against Copper Trader denied in Rs.19 Crore GST Evasion Case

The additional metropolitan magistrate in Surat rejected Sandeep Anwar Virani’s bail application, a partner of Fortune Copper Industries charged in a Rs.19 crore GST evasion case, according to the state GST department on Friday. Virani, who was arrested on November 13, will remain in detention while the state GST department conducts further investigations.

In a related event, the state GST department detained Pragnesh Kantariya, a partner of M/s Infinity Exim, on December 3 for alleged GST evasion of over Rs.34 crore. Kantariya was summoned before the additional metropolitan magistrate, who granted him a remand until noon on December 9.

Both arrests are part of a bigger investigation into tax fraud, which was discovered during search and seizure operations on November 11. The GST department raided 14 companies, including Fortune Copper Industries and Infinity Exim, in Surat, Rajkot, Bharuch, Vapi, Junagadh, and Bhavnagar.

These copper traders were discovered to have evaded GST, resulting in considerable revenue losses for the state. According to GST officials, further interrogation and examination will reveal additional proof of fraudulent acts.