KARACHI: The Customs Court granted bail to suspect namely Ahmed Ali, owner of M/s Ahmed Industries for fake/cheating of sales tax refund amount Rs11,053,782 and directed him to make sure his appearance on each and every date of hearing.
On 9 March 2022, during the hearing, counsel for the petitioner moved bail application and argued that his client is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case, who is ready to face trail, therefore, court may grant his bail till final judgment in this case.
Earlier, investigation officer of Enforcement-I Corporate Tax Office Karachi had submitted interim charge sheet and informed that it has been reported that no manufacturing activity whatsoever has been carried out on the declared premises and M/s Ahmed Industries have got themselves registered as a manufacturer with the sole intention of causing loss to the exchequer by way of claiming fake/ bogus input and refund of sales tax amount.
Investigation officer added that accused and others, were therefore, called upon to show cause as to why not action under section of the sales tax rule, 2006 read with section 11(3) of the sales tax, act 1990 may be taken against them for committing tax fraud within the meanings of section 2(37) of sales tax, act 1990 for consistently claiming illegal input tax and sales tax refund and fraudulently claiming to be a manufacture of zero items. In clear violation section 10 of the sales tax act, 1990.
He further informed the court that accused persons are involved in the scam of issuance, flying invoices claiming fake input/ refund or flying invoices without any physical transfer of goods by the way of obtaining unlawful/ fraudulent input tax adjustment and proceed of issuance of fake sales tax invoices is connivance of other suppliers/ buyers in the supply chain and not existent at the declared business premises.
Investigation officer said that first information report is lodged accordingly, further investigation is in progress, therefore, court may grant time to submit a progress report.
After the hearing, court approved charge sheet and directed investigation officer to complete investigation and submit final charge sheet for next date of hearing.