The investigation into the alleged ₹25-crore fake Input Tax Credit (ITC) scam in Assam gathered pace on Thursday as officials of the GST Intelligence and Enforcement Unit (GIEU) carried out an extensive search at a timber shop owned by the prime accused, Trishna Barman, at Barazar in Barama, Baksa district.
Officials said the raid is part of an ongoing probe into an alleged fake invoicing racket involving shell companies that fraudulently generated GST invoices to claim and circulate fake input tax credits. The search was conducted to recover documentary and material evidence linked to the suspected tax fraud.
Meanwhile, Trishna Barman’s brother, Surajit Barman, who is alleged to be one of her associates, continues to evade arrest. Another suspected accomplice, identified as Shubrajit, is also absconding. Authorities said efforts are underway to locate and apprehend both accused.
The case surfaced after the Assam GST Intelligence and Enforcement Unit arrested Trishna Barman from a hotel in Siliguri, West Bengal, following a three-day search operation. Investigators alleged that she had been changing locations frequently to avoid arrest.
A resident of Barama in Baksa district and an MBA graduate from Bengaluru, Barman is accused of operating multiple shell firms that allegedly issued fake GST invoices to facilitate fraudulent ITC claims worth nearly ₹25 crore.
The arrest was carried out by the GIEU with assistance from the Assam Police Special Task Force (STF). After being produced before a court in West Bengal, she was granted transit remand and is being brought to Guwahati for further interrogation.
Officials described the arrest as a landmark operation, noting that it is the first time the Assam State GST Department has arrested an accused outside the state in connection with a GST fraud case.
Investigators said the probe is continuing to identify other members of the alleged network and determine the full extent of the financial fraud by examining seized documents and financial records.
