First criminal case registered under GST, 2 arrested

TNN
September 7, 2018

Bengaluru, Sept 7: In a first for Karnataka, the commercial taxes department of Karnataka has apprehended two Bengaluru-based businessmen for alleged goods and services tax (GST) violations. The duo had committed serious fraud by raising fake invoices to pocket Rs 8.2 crore in the form of Input Tax Credit (ITC).

Commercial tax sleuths found the accused had availed ITC without selling any goods or services and without anyone paying GST. The arrested are Hameed Rizwan Parthipady Ismail, proprietor of ARS Enterprises in Mathikere, and Jeetendra Kantilal Gandhi, who owns Gandhi Iron and Steel Company in Kalasipalyam. The latter pretended to be the former’s customer in the fraud.

An economic offences court in Bengaluru remanded the duo in judicial custody, while the enforcement wing of the commercial tax department is conducting further investigation into the first GST-related criminal case in the state. “As we have made two arrests, it is a major development in the compliance journey of GST,” said commercial taxes commissioner MS Srikar.

The fraud came to light after the department’s data analytics software (GSTPro) threw up hints at a string of suspicious transactions involving ARS Enterprises, a firm in Chikkabanavara dealing in ferrous and non-ferrous scrap.

The department’s enforcement team led by additional commissioner Nitesh K Patil and assistant commissioner G Viswanatha arrested Ismail after physical inspection of his business area. Ismail has been accused of issuing GST invoices worth Rs 45.9 crore to his customers in the 13-month period since the launch of GST, without any sale taking place.

However, after recording the sale/purchase transactions, Ismail as well as a number of his customers claimed ITC from the department. Gandhi was found to be one such customer. He is the second person arrested in the case.

The case highlighted that data-based intelligence is key to ensuring a higher degree of compliance, the department said in a press note.

Tax evasion: Firm fined Rs 53 cr

In a separate case, tax officials have imposed a Rs 53 crore penalty on a city-based paints and decoration company for evading tax. The company, which has its registered office in Yeshwantpur and manufacturing unit in Malur industrial area, is alleged to have evaded commercial tax for months. It didn’t respond to notices issued by the department. A team of GST officials on Wednesday conducted raids on both the corporate office and the manufacturing unit. Officials said they decided to impose the penalty after verifying the documents seized from the company.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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