Local businessmen booked for evading taxes

Two city-based businessmen were booked on alleged charges of tax evasion, police said today.
Mahesh Gujarati and Harish Dedia owners/propertiers of M/s Bhavant Enterprises at Wagle estate here allegedly evade taxes to the tune of Rs 2.18 crore, collected through VAT from customers, a police official said.
An offence under sections 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged) of the IPC and under relevant sections of Maharashtra Value Added Tax Rules-2002 was lodged against the duo at Shri Nagar police station based on complaint filed by VAT department officials, the officer said.

According to complaint, the owners of the firm did not pay taxes during period 2009-10 to 2014-15. While taxes were collected from the customers, they did not pay it to the government treasury with 15 per cent interest.
Further probe into the matter was on, added police.