Huge quantity of Gutkha seized from OSRTC bus in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Officials of the State Commercial Tax department in Bhubaneswar today seized a huge amount of gutkha and pan masala packets being illegally transported in State government-owned ‘Odisha State Road Transport Corporation’ (OSRTC) bus. The officials also detained the bus and launched an investigation.

Acting on a tip-off, the Commercial Tax Department conducted a raid in the bus and seized as many as 36 sacks containing gutkha packets.

Reportedly, the gutkha packets were being transported to Cuttack from Berhampur illegally to evade taxes under the GST law.

Joint Commercial Tax Officer, Parshuram Kanhar said, “We conducted a search in the bus and seized 36 packets of illegal gutkhas being transported to avoid paying tax under the GST.”

“As per the GST guidelines, there must be supportive documents but it neither contained any invoice nor any web bill, so the bus was detained. Necessary action will be taken after a detailed valuation and probe,” the official added.