Dummy GST firm used to move granite, one held In ₹17cr evasion case in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The economic offences court on Thursday remanded Dasari Srikanth, accused in a ₹17-crore GST evasion case linked to the granite trade, to judicial custody for two weeks. He was sent to Chanchalguda jail after his arrest by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), Hyderabad.Srikanth, a resident of Asif Nagar in Kothapally mandal of Karimnagar, was arrested on May 21, 2026, for offences under Section 132(1)(a) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, revealed Chanchalaguda jail authorities.According to officials, Srikanth was a key member of an organised granite syndicate and was instrumental in running a dummy GST firm, Manoj Enterprises, to help granite factories illegally transport granite rocks and slabs without paying GST.In the name of the dummy firm, e-way bills were generated for outward supplies of significant value. However, none of these supplies were declared in GST returns, and nil returns were filed, resulting in alleged tax evasion to the tune of ₹17 crore.Fake invoices generatedOfficials said Srikanth actively coordinated with factories and transporters, created fake invoices and generated e-way bills in the name of a non-genuine entity.The actual owner of the dummy firm stated that he had never operated such an entity and had never dealt with the granite business. After his production before the court, Srikanth was remanded to judicial custody for two weeks and lodged in Chanchalguda jail.