The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids at seven locations across Bihar and Jharkhand in connection with a ₹100 crore Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund fraud. The operation targeted suspected fraudulent tax refunds obtained through fake export bills. Five customs officials are under investigation, including Additional GST Commissioner Ranvijay Kumar of Patna.
The CBI raided premises in Patna, Purnea, Jamshedpur, Nalanda, and Munger. During the raids, the agency recovered seven gold biscuits weighing 100 grams.
The fraud was uncovered following an unusual surge in exports of tiles and automobile parts to Nepal from the Jaynagar, Bhimnagar, and Bhittamore Land Customs Stations (LCS) during 2022-23. This activity deviated from normal export patterns, prompting an investigation.
According to the CBI’s preliminary investigation, approximately 30 exporters fraudulently obtained GST refunds by presenting fake export documents from these three border customs stations. These exporters allegedly submitted export bills valued at less than ₹10 lakh to bypass the need for higher-level approval.
The CBI’s FIR alleges that customs superintendents Neeraj Kumar and Manmohan Sharma of Jaynagar, Tarun Kumar Sinha and Rajiv Ranjan Sinha of Bhimnagar, and Additional Commissioner Ranvijay Kumar were directly involved in the scam. These officials are accused of approving fraudulent bills in exchange for bribes, which resulted in substantial GST refund benefits for the exporters. Clearing agent Ganga Singh, based in Kolkata, has been named as a key conspirator.
The CBI reported that the officials fabricated approximately ₹800 crore worth of exports, including goods subject to 28% and 18% GST slabs. This resulted in fraudulent refunds of about ₹100 crore.
The investigation revealed that 4,161 e-way bills were submitted to show exports, including vehicles like two-wheelers, buses, and even ambulances. However, verification showed that none of these vehicles matched the SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal) database.
The CBI alleges that Additional Commissioner Ranvijay Kumar deliberately overlooked the unusual increase in exports and verbally instructed subordinate officers to pass the LEO (Let Export Order). He allegedly provided fake shipping details himself or through clearing agent Ganga Singh.
The CBI’s raids and preliminary investigation have exposed an organized network of customs officials and private exporters, who were exploiting government systems to steal taxpayer money.