LUDHIANA: In a big breakthrough in the Rs 158.10-crore bogus billing case, the central GST (CGST) commissionerate, Ludhiana, has arrested Noida-based businessman Rakesh Arora alias Raja Bhaiya alias Dharminder Arora, who is believed to be one of the main brains behind this racket. He could not be nabbed earlier as his real identity was not known.
The investigating officials zeroed in on him after establishing his real identity from the entry records of guests who had checked in to at a city-based hotel several times. This is the fourth arrest in the infamous case in which more than Rs 21 crore worth input tax credit (ITC) was allegedly claimed fraudulently through bogus firms.
Three persons, including a prominent chartered accountant of the city, a businessman and an accountant were also arrested in connection with this case recently by the department. The CA and businessman are in the judicial custody.
Ashutosh Baranwal, principal commissioner CGST Ludhiana, said, “Rakesh Arora alias Dharminder alias Raja Bhaiya, one of the masterminds behind the fake invoice racket, was arrested late into the night on December 5 from Noida. His arrest was made after series of painstaking efforts which included electronic as well as documentary intelligence gathering.”
“Arora was identified on the basis of thorough investigation of photo identities of guests who had checked into a hotel in Ludhiana over a period of two years,” he added.
Baranwal said, “During a round of sustained questioning, he broke down and accepted his role in the matter. In his statement, he has admitted his involvement in this fraud with a CA. CA Ankur Garg, who has been arrested by us a few days back, was taken to this hotel before his arrest. Several photo IDs of suspected guests who could be Dharminder alias Raja Bhaiya were shown to him and one of the photos was of Rakesh Arora, but CA continued to deny and misdirect the investigators by not identifying the accused.”