Gopi Chand Chaudhary vs. State Of Haryana
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CRM-M-61656-2023 1 2024:PHHC:024317 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 231 CRM-M-61656-2023 Date of decision : 21.02.2024 Gopi Chand Chaudhary ...... Petitioner versus State of Haryana ...... Respondent CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PANKAJ JAIN Present: Mr. Aman Pal, Advocate and Mr. Japsehaj Singh, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Ashok Kumar Sehrawat, DAG, Haryana. **** PANKAJ JAIN, J. (Oral)
Present petition has been filed under Section 439 Cr.P.C. for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case bearing FIR No.642 dated 24.10.2020 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 409, 419, 420, 465, 467, 468 and 471 of IPC (Section 120-B of IPC added later on) at Police Station City Sirsa, District Sirsa.
As per the contents of the FIR it has been alleged as under:- “OFFICE OF DY EXCISE TAXATION COMMISSIONER (ST) SIRSA, VANIJYA BHAWAN, BARNALA ROAD SIRSA. From Excise Taxation Officer Ward No. 5 Sirsa. To, The Superintendent of Police Sirsa. No. 3642 dated 12.12. 19. Subject: - Regarding registration of FIR against Sh. Leela Dhar S/o Partap Singh H. No. 625 Sector 4 Behind City Thana Gali Thakran Wali Sirsa, Prop M/s Ganga Ram Traders Sirsa TIN 06082918738. Memo On the subject cited above, it is informed that a firm in the name of M/s Ganga Ram Traders Sirsa TIN 06082918738 is DINESH KUMAR 2024.02.21 18:18 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document
CRM-M-61656-2023 2 2024:PHHC:024317 found involved in claiming bogus refund on account of input tax credit. During the assessment period 2011-12, this dealer has fraudulently obtained refund of Rs. 2478775/- by using false and fabricated documents which includes sale invoices of cigarettes regarding inter-state sale to Rajasthan, VAT D-3 forms showing sale of Cigarettes and C forms bearing No. R/C/2007/3627038, R/C/2007/3627044, R/C/2009/4444767, RJ/C/2011-12/000001296. These refunds were obtained by using the above mentioned C forms procured from the dealers of Rajasthan who used to deal in the trading of tax free commodity i.e. khal, binola etc, on account of showing the interstate sale of Cement/Tiles/Cigarettes against said C forms. On perusal record, it has been found that actually dealer has used forged and false documents of sale (as mentioned above): and without making any actual movement of goods during the course of inter state sale, dealer has obtained the refund to the tune of Rs. 2478775/-. This dealer has claimed input tax credit @21% 13.125% on account of purchases of Cigarettes and further shown disposal of these goods @2% in the course: of interstate sale against C forms. It has also been observed by the Special Team(Refund) in his report bearing No 99 dated 29.1.2016 that no taxable goods were sold in the course of inter state sale by M/s Ganga Ram Traders, Sirsa, Pather, in Rajasthan, against these C forms, tax free goods (khal/Binola) have been shows accounted for which shows that benefit of input tax credit has been claimed and obtained by M/s Ganga Ram Traders Sirsa despite the fact that no tax has been paid at any stage by the dealer. Moreover, claim of sale at concessional rate of tax against C forms has been claimed wrongly. In this way, by claiming false ITC and claiming sales at concessional rate of tax against the C forms by submitting false and fabricated documents, have caused revenue loss amounting to Rs. 15805146/- to the State Exchequer as per re-assessment DINESH KUMAR 2024.02.21 18:18 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document
CRM-M-61656-2023 3 2024:PHHC:024317 order No. 812A dated 18.11.2019. It is accordingly: requested to register FIR against Sh Leela Dhar S/o Partap Singh H.No. 625 Sector 4 Behind City Thana Gali Thakran Wali Sirsa, Prop M/s Ganga Ram Traders Sirsa TIN 06082918738 as per relevant provisions/sections of IPC and any other penal law if applicable, for investigation in the matter as per law. Chap Singh Excise Taxation Officer Ward No. 5 Sirsa. Endst No 3643-44 /TI dated 12.12. 19. A copy is forwarded to the following for information please:- The Excise Taxation Commissioner, Haryana Panchkula. The Dy Excise Taxation Commissioner(ST) Sirsa. Excise Taxation piieer Ward No. 5 Sirsa.”
The FIR relates to allowing refund on the basis of forged and fabricated documents.
State Counsel submits that role of the petitioner is similar to the one in the connected case i.e. CRM-M-59913-2023. 5. On the specific query being asked to Counsel representing the State as to what was the role of the petitioner in issuing refund to the accused- firm as unearthed in the investigation, he on instructions from the Investigating Officer submits that the petitioner used to charge 2% to 3% commission on refund.
Having heard rival contention of the parties, this Court finds that the allegation in the FIR is w.r.t. the assessee having claimed refund wrongly by submitting forged and false documents of sale. Thus the role of the petitioner primarily relates to error in judgment. There is no such allegation that the petitioner acted in cahoots with the assessee to award refund illegally.
It is not disputed by State Counsel that the Challan already stands presented. Investigation is complete and as on date the evidence w.r.t. meeting of minds between the petitioner and the main accused remains amiss. DINESH KUMAR 2024.02.21 18:18 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document
CRM-M-61656-2023 4 2024:PHHC:024317
The petitioner is stated to be 67 years old Senior Citizen earning pension from the State. It is also not disputed that the petitioner served State with clean record and has no criminal antecedents.
In view of above this Court finds that there is no reason to prolong custody of the petitioner as a punitive measure. Resultantly, the present petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his furnishing bail bonds/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the Trial Court/Duty Magistrate concerned.
Needless to say that anything observed hereinabove shall not be construed to be an expression of opinion on the merits of the case.
(PANKAJ JAIN)
JUDGE 21.02.2024
Dinesh Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes Whether Reportable : No DINESH KUMAR 2024.02.21 18:18 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document
Reproduced from the public record of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Verify against the court's own copy before relying on it. Income tax judgments are on bharattax.net.