In a major crackdown on GST fraud, the GST Intelligence and Enforcement Unit (GIEU), Assam, has arrested a woman from Siliguri, West Bengal, in connection with a fake Input Tax Credit (ITC) racket involving over Rs 25 crore.
The accused, identified as Trishna Barman, a resident of Barama in Assam’s Baksa district, was allegedly operating a network of fake firms to generate fraudulent tax invoices and enable illegal circulation of ITC. Officials said she had been absconding for several days and was finally traced after a three-day search operation.
According to the initial report, Barman frequently changed her location to evade arrest. Acting on specific intelligence, enforcement officials tracked her down to a hotel in Siliguri, where she was apprehended. She is reportedly an MBA graduate from Bangalore.
The operation was carried out by the GIEU, Assam, with support from the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police, under the leadership of officer Monuj Kr Dowari. Authorities confirmed that Barman was produced before a court in West Bengal for transit remand and is expected to be brought to Guwahati for further investigation.
Investigators have revealed that her brother, Surajit Barman, is also allegedly involved in the multi-crore scam and is currently on the run. Efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest him. Officials also suspect the involvement of several other individuals linked to the fake invoicing network, who are now under scrutiny.
Notably, this is the first time officers from the Assam State GST Department have arrested an accused outside the state, marking a significant milestone in their enforcement efforts.
The arrest is being seen as a breakthrough in the fight against organised GST fraud and fake ITC rackets operating across state lines. Further details are awaited as the investigation continues, and more links in the network are likely to emerge.
