Pan Masala-Laden Truck Coughs Up Rs 44.64 Lakh Penalty For GST Evasion In Odisha’s Keonjhar

Champua: A truck driver was fined a whopping Rs 44.64 for illegal transportation of pan masala and tobacco products in Keonjhar’s Champua area on Sunday.

The driver of a 14-wheeler truck bearing registration no – NL 01AL 6765 — was questioned by the Barbil City and Enforcement team.

The officials were told by the truck driver that the vehicle was loaded with cooking oil packets, but failed to provide the documents supporting his claims.

The officials then searched the car to find 320 packets of pan masala and 32 packets of tobacco. The officials seized the goods and brought the truck to the Champua police station premises.

Following information from the cops, the Barbil GST officials checked the consignment documents on March 25. It was found that a huge quantity of pan masala and tobacco were being ferried in the truck evading GST and other taxes.

According to a tax official, the Delhi-based owner of the pan masala and tobacco coughed up Rs 44,64,272 fine online on March 26, after which the vehicle and the items were released.

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