Major GST Crackdown in Muzaffarpur: Firecrackers Worth More Than Rs 10 Crore Seized from Three Shops, Traders in Panic:

The Commercial Tax Department’s investigation into firecracker shops on Garib Sthan Road, one of the busiest markets in Muzaffarpur, has created panic among traders. A team from the Tirhut Division Investigation Bureau carried out a two-day search at three shops and seized firecracker stock worth more than Rs 10 crore.

The operation was conducted on the orders of Shashi Bhanu, Additional Commissioner (ADC) of the Commercial Tax Department, Tirhut Division. The investigation began on Thursday evening and continued until late Friday. Officials checked the stock at Gayatri Traders, Modern Traders and Hind Store.

During the inspection, officials found differences between the actual stock and the details mentioned in the available documents. The traders could not provide the required papers to explain these differences. Following this, the department took action against all three shops and seized the goods. For the time being, the seized firecrackers have been handed over to the respective traders.

Such a major GST investigation in the firecracker market has taken place after several years. Officials are now checking purchase records and tax payment documents to find out whether the traders followed GST rules. The final findings will be clear after the documents have been examined in detail.

It is worth noting that the sale of firecrackers has been banned in the district for several years. As a result, the District Magistrate’s office has not renewed the licence of any firecracker shop. Despite this, firecrackers worth crores of rupees are reportedly being stored and sold openly in the Garib Sthan Temple area. This has raised questions about how such large quantities of firecrackers are being sold and stored despite the restrictions.