CGST Bhiwandi Commissionerate arrests Oppo Mobiles finance manager for IT fraud amounting to Rs 19 crore

An authorized signatory – Manager-Finance & Accounts of Chinese origin company M/s. Oppo Mobiles India Private Limited Mr. Mahendra Kumar Rawat has been arrested by CGST Bhiwandi Commissionerate, for fraudulent availment of ITC amounting to Rs.19 cr on fake invoices. The officers of CGST Bhiwandi Commissionerate in Mumbai Zone arrested Mr. Rawat today (22.03.23) and he will be in judicial custody till 03.04.23. Based on material evidence gathered during the investigation, he was arrested today under section 69 of the CGST Act, 2017 for contravention of section 132 of the CGST Act, 2017.

Anti-evasion wing of CGST Bhiwandi Commissionerate's investigation against M/s. Oppo Mobiles India Private Limited (GSTIN – 27AABCO9247K1ZZ) revealed that OPPO Maharashtra was involved in availment of fake ITC without receipt of any goods. The supplier of OPPO Mobiles India Pvt ltd, M/S Gain Hero India Private Limited, was found to be non-existent at its principal place of business. In this connection, sixteen e- way bills for the said transaction were verified and found to be fake. Further, statements of the transporters and vehicle owner were recorded wherein it was revealed that there was no supply of goods to OPPO Maharashtra.

Shri Mahendra Kumar Rawat, Authorized Signatory and Manager-Finance & Accounts of M/s. Oppo Mobiles India Private Limited, is the main key person who has played the key role in availing of the said fraudulent ITC amounting to Rs. 19,27,54,093/- against the invoices amounting to Rs. 107,08,56,072/- issued by Gain Hero India Private Limited, without receipt of the goods. The accused has admitted in his statement that the e-way bills generated are fake.

This case is a part of the special drive launched by the CGST Mumbai Zone against the tax fraudsters and tax evaders. So far, CGST Bhiwandi Commissionerate has arrested 24 persons in the last 18 months itself, informed Sumit Kumar, Commissioner, Central GST Bhiwandi.