KCTD Raids Illegal Pan Masala and Tobacco Godowns

KCTD Raids Illegal Pan Masala and Tobacco Godowns

Bengaluru: “The officers of the Enforcement Wing and Vigilance Wing of Commercial Taxes Department, Government of Karnataka in a joint operation raided the transport and unauthorized godowns where pan masala and tobacco products of about Rs I crore were stored without valid documents. The penalty has been collected partially and further investigation is in progress.

On specific information, the team of officers headed by Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Enforcement), South Zone and Joint Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Vigilance), Bangalore raided the godowns located within the city and at residential areas in the outskirts of Bengaluru where pan masala was stored in residential houses without any documents. The persons who have stored the goods in the outskirts are not registered under GST and no boards were displayed. It is suspected that, since the sale of pan masala and tobacco products are banned in Tamilnadu, they are being stored in the outskirts of Bengaluru near the border with Tamilnadu at Hosur Road with an intention to transport the same to Tamilnadu without documents.

It is informed that the department is closely watching the movement of unauthorized pan masala and tobacco products. If anybody has information regarding the illegal storage of pan masala and tobacco products in any godown or residential premises, the same may be intimated to the department at the control room phone number 080-25704970. It is also warned that stringent action will be initiated against the persons indulging in activities of tax evasion.