Guwahati: The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in Assam’s Kamrup (Metro) on Friday ordered 14 days’ judicial custody for Trishna Barman, the prime accused in the alleged Rs 25 crore Input Tax Credit (ITC) fraud case, while rejecting her bail application.
After being arrested in West Bengal and brought to Guwahati on transit remand, Barman was produced before the court. The Assam Goods and Services Tax (GST) Department has stepped up its investigation into the alleged multi-crore tax evasion case.
Officials said she is likely to be questioned further as investigators work to determine the full extent of the alleged fraud and identify everyone connected to it.
The investigation has so far indicated that Barman and her brother, Surajit Barman, allegedly set up several bogus GST-registered firms.
Investigators believe these entities issued fake invoices in exchange for commissions, enabling fraudulent ITC claims without any actual supply of goods or services.
The probe has also brought Kolkata resident Shubhrajit Bhattacharya under suspicion for his alleged role in the fake invoicing network.
Officials said multiple fictitious GST-registered firms have been linked to the operation, which is believed to have facilitated fraudulent ITC claims exceeding Rs 25 crore and caused substantial losses to the Assam government.
Investigators suspect the operation extended beyond Assam and may have been part of a wider interstate network.
The probe is still in progress as GST officials examine the money trail, the people connected to the case, and the overall magnitude of the alleged fraud.