CBI Probes ₹100 Cr GST Scam Involving Top Customs Officials

It started like many frauds do—quietly, behind closed doors, under the radar. But on Friday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) made it loud and clear that they were onto something big. Very big.

Raids Across Bihar and Jharkhand Uncover Shocking GST Fraud

CBI teams swooped down on seven different locations across Bihar and Jharkhand—Patna, Purnea, Jamshedpur, Nalanda, and Munger among them. Their target? A network allegedly built around fake export bills used to generate bogus GST refund claims amounting to a jaw-dropping Rs 100 crore.

Involvement of Senior Customs Officials Raises Eyebrows

This isn’t just another case of tax evasion. According to the FIR, the scam appears to be rooted within the system itself. The name that jumps out immediately is Shri Ranvijay Kumar, the then Additional Commissioner, Customs, Patna. He wasn’t alone. Four former Superintendents—some of whom have since been promoted to Assistant Commissioners—are also in the dock.

So what’s the allegation? The CBI says these officials colluded with a private G-card holder (an authorized customs agent), several exporter and importer firms, and "unknown others" to show fake exports and claim GST refunds they were never entitled to.

Fake Exports, Real Money

The supposed exports were tiles and automobile parts, allegedly routed through Land Customs Stations (LCS) in Bhimnagar, Jaynagar, and Bhittamore. But these exports were only on paper. The supporting documentation—invoices, shipping bills, you name it—was cooked up to secure fraudulent tax refunds from jurisdictional GST offices.

What Did the CBI Find?

During the extensive search operation, CBI officials seized seven gold bars, each weighing 100 grams. They also took possession of several mobile phones and a bunch of documents believed to be crucial to the investigation.

Legal Action and the Road Ahead

The agency has now officially registered a case under sections related to criminal conspiracy and corruption. But this is just the beginning. With gold bars in the mix and high-ranking officials under scrutiny, the next big step for the CBI is to follow the money.

An insider from the agency mentioned that the investigation is now shifting focus to tracing the money trail and understanding how far and wide this fraudulent network extends.

So while the gold bars glitter, the truth behind this Rs 100 crore GST scam is just beginning to come into the light.