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2020 (10) TMI 44 - HC - GSTPre-arrest Bail Application - allegation of monthly amount were being paid as bribe to the officers and officials of taxation department. - alleged tax evasion in connivance with the officers/ officials of Excise and Taxation Department. - It is alleged that the tax was being evaded by ensuring that there is no checking or verification of the documents or the goods while being transported to and from State of Punjab - Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 7, 7(a) and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 - HELD THAT:- With the introduction of GST regime, one of the object worked upon was free movement of goods, by removal of barriers and Information Collection Centres. The responsibility was shifted upon the Excise and Taxation Officers/ officials and more so on the mobile wing of the department. Under the GST, there is an inter-connected chain of sellers and purchasers as the purchaser gets the credit of tax paid or suffered by seller. The chain can be within the State or PAN-India. One link in the chain being ingenuine, doctored or non-existant, would impact the entire chain. The nature of allegation in present case of evasion of GST requires a deeper probe. There are far reaching ramifications which may vary from allowing of input credit/ MODVAT of tax not paid to the Government to an eventuality that the credit of tax paid on some other product is used for something else. Not only this, someone later in chain in spite of being bona fide purchaser not aware of the earlier misdeed in the chain yet will have to suffer the consequences. The allegation in the present case are very serious - There is alleged connivance of the transporters, passers and the officials to facilitate the evasion of tax. The investigation is going on, it appears that the officials were being paid bribe on monthly basis. There is no quibble that the liberty of a person is of utmost importance. But when personal liberty is pitted against a sovereign function i.e. collection of tax which is life blood of the economy, the latter would prevail. Present is a case where arrest is imperative for fair and full investigation. The petitioner being an exofficer of the department can influence the witness or temper with the evidence - Considering the complexity of the issue, the tax impact on chain of sellers and purchasers, the material as on date with the investigating agency, the multi dimensional aspects involved which needs a deeper probe, no case is made out for grant of pre-arrest bail. Petition dismissed.
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