Home Case Index All Cases GST GST + HC GST - 2022 (3) TMI HC This
Forgot password New User/ Regiser ⇒ Register to get Live Demo
2022 (3) TMI 396 - HC - GSTSeeking grant for regular bail - issuance of invoices only, without any actual supply of goods - receiving and passing of fraudulent ITC to their buyers by way of creating a chain of bogus firms, without physical receipt and supply of goods - compounding of offences - section 138 of NI Act. HELD THAT:- Section 132(1)(i) provides for punishment as that ‘in cases where the amount of tax evaded or the amount of input tax credit wrongly availed or utilised or the amount of refund wrongly taken exceeds five hundred lakh rupees, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and with fine; and section 132(2) provides that, where any person convicted of an offence under this section is again convicted of an offence under this section, then, he shall be punishable for the second and for every subsequent offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and with fine - Section 138 of the Act makes provision for compounding of offences under the Act, even after the institution of prosecution, on payment by the person accused of the offence, such compounding amount in such manner as may be prescribed. The compounding shall be allowed only after making payment of tax, interest and penalty involved in such offences, on payment of compounding amount as may be determined by the commissioner, the criminal proceeding already initiated in respect of the said offence shall stand abated. The Commissioner is empower to recover the due amount and propose for abating the proceedings and as the trial will take its own time to conclude, this Court finds this to be a fit case where discretion could be exercised in favour of the applicant - applicant is ordered to be released on regular bail on executing a personal bond of ₹ 1,00,000/- with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court and subject to the conditions imposed. Application allowed.
|