Film Director Vijay Gutte held for GST Fraud

Mumbai: Film director Vijay R. Gutte, son of a leading Maharashtra businessman close to the BJP, has been arrested in a case of alleged Rs 34-crore GST fraud committed through fake documents, official sources said here on Friday. Director of an upcoming film 'The Accidental Prime Minister' starring veteran actor Anupam Kher, Gutte has been remanded in custody till August 14 by a Mumbai court.

The Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGSTI) has booked Gutte under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act on charge of wrongfully availing input tax credit through fake bills and invoices. If found guilty, Gutte could face a penalty and jail for five years, the sources said.

According to DGGSTI, Gutte's firm VRG Digital Corp Pvt Ltd (VRGDCPL) allegedly received fake invoices involving GST of around Rs 34 crore for animation and manpower services from Horizon Outsource Solutions Pvt Ltd (HOSPL). Under the GST regime, the input tax credit permits taxpayers to claim credit for taxes paid on purchases after submission of proper documents. Incidentally, the HOSPL is already under investigations in another massive GST fraud case. Besides, VRGDCPL had also claimed refunds of Rs 28 crore under the Central VAT credits availed for these fraudulent invoices for over a year. (IANS)