The Thane Central GST Commissionerate has arrested Vivek Rajesh Maurya for orchestrating a ₹47.32 crore Goods and Services Tax (GST) credit fraud through his firm, KSM Enterprises. The arrest, made on August 19, follows a meticulous investigation leveraging advanced data analytics and internally developed intelligence, which exposed Maurya’s scheme of falsely claiming and passing on Input Tax Credit (ITC) without any actual supply of goods or services, violating the CGST Act of 2017.

The Input Tax Credit mechanism allows businesses to offset taxes paid on purchases against taxes collected on sales, preventing double taxation. However, authorities discovered that KSM Enterprises engaged in “paper transactions,” creating fake invoices to claim ITC without any legitimate business activity. A search at Maurya’s residence yielded incriminating evidence, including bank passbooks, chequebooks, mobile phones, and documents linked to multiple shell companies used to facilitate the fraud. These findings suggest a sophisticated network of fraudulent firms, with officials indicating that further investigations may uncover additional suspects.

Maurya was produced before a judicial magistrate on August 20 and remanded to 14-day judicial custody. The Thane CGST Commissionerate emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, with potential links to other fraudulent entities under scrutiny. “This arrest sends a strong message to those exploiting the GST system for personal gain,” said a senior official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case.

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The bust adds to a series of high-profile GST fraud cases in Maharashtra, with authorities intensifying efforts to curb tax evasion. In recent months, similar operations in Mumbai, Nashik, and Pune have led to arrests and recoveries in frauds ranging from ₹20 crore to ₹8,000 crore, highlighting the scale of such rackets. The Thane Commissionerate’s use of cutting-edge data tools underscores the government’s push to strengthen tax compliance and protect public revenue.

As the investigation deepens, authorities are examining Maurya’s financial transactions and potential accomplices, with expectations of further breakthroughs in dismantling this multi-crore scam.

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