Keonjhar: A gutkha and tobacco products laden truck which was on its way to Bhubaneswar from Delhi was fined Rs 44 lakh on the charges of tax evasion.
A team of Barbil City (Commercial Tax) and GST Enforcement unit had intercepted the truck near Murusuan area under Champua police limits in Keonjhar district on Sunday.
The team initially had detained the truck on suspicion and later, 320 cartoons of pan masala and 32 bags of tobacco were found during physical verification of the goods.
As the driver of the truck could not produce any valid e-way bill or tax invoice, the officials imposed a penalty of Rs 44, 64,272.
Suryananrayan Sethi, Barbil city and GST enforcement unit head said it is for the first time that such a high penalty has been imposed on any vehicle in the State so far.
(Edited By Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)