If you pay GST at a railway station lounge, how can you be sure that the tax is actually being deposited with the government?
This question has triggered a fresh debate after a passenger claimed that the GST number printed on a lounge bill issued at New Delhi Railway Station was invalid. The allegation quickly gained traction online, especially after the passenger said station staff and local management acknowledged that an incorrect GST number had been printed on the receipt.
The incident came to light through a viral video in which a woman, who said she was travelling with a group of around 25 people, questioned the authenticity of the GST details printed on bills issued by a premium lounge facility at the station.
According to the passenger, the group opted for the lounge service after their train was delayed by nearly three hours. While reviewing the bills, she allegedly noticed inconsistencies in the GST information printed on different receipts.
In the video, the woman compares the bills of lounge 1 and lounge 2 and claims that both displayed different GST numbers.
On one bill, the character “8” appeared, while on another receipt the same character was printed as “B”. When she checked the GST number online, she claimed the portal showed it as invalid, raising questions about the authenticity of the billing details.
The passenger further alleged that when she approached the lounge staff, officials on site acknowledged that the GST number had been printed incorrectly. According to her, she was told the issue would be corrected later with the help of the operator’s chartered accountant.
Railway administration issues clarification
As the video gained attention, New Delhi Railway Station authorities responded to the allegations after verification involving lounge operator MS Tirupati Associates.
In its clarification, the Delhi Railway Division stated that an internal review found that tickets and bills were being issued with the correct GST details. The administration further said that the lounge operator has been regularly paying the prescribed licence fee to the Railways and depositing GST at the applicable rate of 18 percent.
The statement effectively rejected allegations of GST evasion or tax irregularities.
Social media reactions pour in
The controversy generated strong reactions online, with several users demanding greater accountability and transparency.
Some questioned how an allegedly invalid GST number could appear on an official bill, while others called for stricter checks to ensure that businesses collecting GST from customers are issuing invoices with accurate tax details.
Source from: https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/gst-fraud-allegations-new-delhi-railway-station-lounge-bill-gejv9kdp
