RAIPUR,CG: Despite a large number of construction works and goods procurement under DMF funds in the state in the past few years, the government has not received GST in proportion to the amount spent.

The Business Intelligence Unit constituted under State GST has deployed AI based IT tools to analyze the aforementioned supplies and purchases along with the businessmen involved.

Finance Minister O P Choudhary had asked the State GST Department to keep a hawk’s eye on the businessmen shying away from timely payment of GST. Soon strict action will be taken in such cases. Recently, certain business establishments were investigated and they were made to pay the pending taxes at once. In the case of 'Bharat Infra' from Keshkal, tax evasion of Rs 91 lakh was discovered, whereas in the case of Shri Krishna Enterprises of Raipur tax evasion of Rs 2.5 crore has been detected. So far, an amount of Rs 1.75 crore has been recovered by the tax department from these establishments. In a similar case of tax evasion found in the Horticulture Department, the State GST Department has issued a notice to Kisan Agrotech, a company supplying shade nets, to ensure payment of pending taxes.

Businessmen involved in tax evasion often claim ITC on bogus bills to show less tax liability. However, now the department is equipped with AI-powered IT tools which can easily detect tax evasion and see through the forgery. The State Tax Department is also organizing meet-ups with businessmen to create awareness about the damaging consequences of the shortcuts to avoid tax liability. Finance Minister OP Choudhary has appealed to businessmen in the state to pay their taxes honestly and in a timely manner.