Action by Maharashtra Goods and Services Tax Department

Arrest for Claiming Input Tax Credit Worth ₹10.53 Crore

Mumbai, Sept 2025 : Under a special investigation campaign against tax-evading firms, the Maharashtra Goods and Services Tax (GST) Department arrested Suresh Shivji Kataria (age 56), owner of M/s. Neelkanth Traders, on September 25, 2025. This information was shared through a press release by State Tax Deputy Commissioner (Public Relations) Janardan Atapadkar from the State Tax Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Mazgaon, Mumbai.

The investigation against M/s. Neelkanth Traders was conducted in connection with bogus invoices involving other taxpayers. During the probe, it was revealed that Suresh Shivji Kataria fraudulently availed fake Input Tax Credit (ITC) of ₹10.53 crore from non-existent taxpayers without carrying out any actual transaction of goods.

The Hon’ble Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Esplanade, Mumbai, has remanded Suresh Shivji Kataria to judicial custody until October 10, 2025. The operation was carried out by Assistant Commissioners of State Tax, Santosh R. Khedkar and Mrs. Deepti N. Pilare, along with State Tax Inspectors/Tax Assistants.

This action was executed under the guidance of Yasmin A. Molkar, State Tax Deputy Commissioner, Investigation-C Division, Mumbai, and the Joint Commissioner of State Tax, Investigation-C Division, Mumbai.

This is the 30th arrest in the financial year 2025–26, once again sending a strong warning from the Maharashtra GST Department to those engaged in tax evasion, generating bogus invoices, showing fake transactions of goods or services, and fraudulently availing or passing on Input Tax Credit.