RailEnquiry

Bathinda : The Excise and Taxation Department today detected sales tax evasion during a surprise checking of goods in Lalgarh-Guwahati Express. The operation was led by the Joint Director, Enforcement Taxation Faridkot and Ferozepur, Captain YS Matta.Matta, while talking to the media later, accused the railway authorities of non-cooperation during such operations.He alleged that the railway officials never informed his department officials which led to evasion of sales tax. He said 266 goods were found without any valid sales tax documents during the nightlong operation at the railway station. Three assistant taxation commissioners, including Jaswinder Singh, Madan Mohan and Pawan Garg, four ETOs including SS Manshahia, Rishi Kumar, Malwinder Singh Dhillon and Rakesh Malhotra were also present during the checking.Matta said the railway authorities misbehaved with their team and did not allow them to take possession of the goods. He said the railway authorities asked his officials to first take permission of the DRM (Divisional Railway Manager) or any other senior railway official. He said such behaviour was leading to evasion of tax worth lakhs and the Punjab government was failing to fill its empty coffers.The excise officials said there was no VAT or bill number attached with the goods in the train. They said sales tax, to the tune of many lakh, was being evaded with the help of local agents.Meanwhile, station superintendent, Pradeep Kumar, refuted all the allegations and said the railway authorities always extend support to the officials conducting surprise checking.