Mumbai: Firm director held in Rs 18 crore export scam – Times of India

MUMBAI: Customs department has arrested Adesh Saple, director of Sky Touch Aviation Pvt Ltd, for indulging in fraudulent claim of export incentives and refund of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST), a variant of GST, totalling nearly Rs 18 crore.
Customs had detained goods pertaining to 16 shipping bills filed in the name of Prince Enterprises. The import export code (IEC) was in the name of Manish Pagare, but it was found that it was obtained by Saple by submitting fake documents. Officials of Customs (preventive) unit also found that the goods were misdeclared and overvalued against the declared value in the shipping bills. The goods declared as men’s garments turned out to be rags. “Saple appears to be the mastermind in handling bogus export involving 58 IECs having free on board value of Rs 291 crore,” said an official. Free on board value is the price buyer pays for the goods excluding carriage, insurance and freight.
Saple said he was approached by Mohammed Shaikh, who claimed he was Pagare’s partner, and procured the rags from Ulhasnagar and Vashi against cash payment. A Custom broker, questioned by the Customs, said he was engaged by Saple who gave him details of taxable value, IGST amount, rate of IGST and other details of the goods. Officials claimed that Saple refused to reveal details of the mastermind.