Soya processing unit raided; fined Rs 80 lakh for tax evasion

Madhya Pradesh Sales Tax Department conducted a raid at a soya processing plant and collected Rs 80 lakh as penalty from the owner of the unit for alleged tax evasion, officials said today.
The department officials also seized goods, mainly soyabean, worth Rs 13 crore on which they found that tax had been evaded.
"Following the raid, which lasted for nearly 60 hours, the owner of the soya processing plant, Surajmal Chandmal, was asked to deposit Rs 80 lakh as penalty after discrepancies were found in the logbooks," R K Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Anti-Evasion Wing of Sales Tax Department, said.

"Moreover, Rs 13 crore-worth goods, on which tax was found to have been evaded, was also recovered from the plant," he added.
The company owner immediately deposited Rs 80 lakh as penalty. Out of the total penalty amount, Rs 20 lakh was imposed on the stock of poppy seed and Rs 60 lakh on soybean oil, the official said.
"Nearly 10 boxes filled with documents linked to the company were also seized for scrutiny," Sharma added.
When contacted, Raju Niranjan Tiwari, president of Krishi Upaj Mandi, said, "If it is found that the company has also evaded the Mandi Tax on the seized goods, then it will have to pay five times the tax amount.