Lucknow: The Lucknow crime branch has busted an organised network allegedly involved in creating fake GST firms, generating bogus input tax credit (ITC) and passing it on through paper transactions, causing an estimated ₹27.3 lakh loss to govt revenue.Four persons were arrested by a joint team of the crime branch and Hasanganj police on Saturday. The accused have been identified as Vaibhav Singh, 35, a BTech graduate; Mohammad Arsan, 32, BCom; Vikas Kumar Mishra, 35, BA-LLB; and Mohammad Sakib, 28, BA. Police seized six mobile phones from their possession.The arrests were made as part of a special drive launched by the Lucknow Police commissionerate against individuals and groups involved in GST evasion.According to police, the investigation was initiated after a complaint received on Aug 30, 2025, concerning Ghanshyam Enterprises, which had obtained GST registration for trading in unwrought lead waste, parings and plastic scrap.During scrutiny of the firm’s registration and business documents, investigators detected several irregularities. Further investigation allegedly revealed that forged documents were used to facilitate transactions with various firms and companies and to claim and pass on fraudulent ITC without corresponding genuine business activity.An FIR was registered at Hasanganj police station under several sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police said the suspected network is estimated to have caused a ₹27.3 lakh loss to the govt exchequer.The crime branch, under the direction of additional DCP (crime) Kiran Yadav, analysed technical and documentary evidence and worked with Hasanganj police to trace the accused.
