A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has unearthed a multi-crore tax evasion scam in Haryana. Headed by an IGP-rank officer, the SIT submitted its report to Haryana Lokayukta Justice Pritam Pal on Thursday. According to the SIT report, prima facie an alleged tax evasion of over Rs 10,618 crore has been detected .

The report, it is learnt, reveals the manner in which the builders, rice industry, tobacco and cigarette industry and the officials of the excise and taxation department allegedly connived with each other to evade taxes. The probe covers a period of 10 years, starting from 2005.

A resident of Kaithal, Satbir Singh, had lodged a complaint with the Haryana Lokayukta in 2011 alleging tax evasion by certain transporters in his district. On Lokayukta orders, the SIT was asked to probe the allegations of tax evasion in the state.

The SIT, in its report, indicted a number of excise and taxation department (ETD) officials, accusing them of being part of a “powerful lobby” and recommended a CBI probe. “During the inquiry it was noticed that officers of excise and taxation department, Haryana, at all levels, in connivance with the traders and builders/ developers caused a huge loss to the state. The system of tax evasion/refund by corrupt means is a well-established and unofficially approved system, which is mutually beneficial to the ETD officers and traders and builders and,  hence, nobody wants to disturb this convenient system,” the  SIT’s report reads.

SIT chief Shrikant Jadhav said, “The deadline of the probe and submission of the report was January 15. The investigation report has been submitted to the Lokayukta today. I cannot divulge the fidings.” Lokayukta Justice (retd.) Pritam Pal said, “I have received the SIT report but I am yet to go through its contents.” (Indian Express)