CGST raid at Kamal Kishore Zarda Bhandar in Harda:Illegal packing machines, tobacco supply exposed; operator deposits ₹2.86 crore during ongoing investigation

The Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Customs Department, Bhopal, has unearthed large-scale tax evasion during raids at Kamal Kishore Zarda Bhandar and Kamal Kishore Agrawal Company in Harda.
Following the detection, the company’s operator voluntarily deposited Rs 2.86 crore towards tax evasion, including tax, compensation cess, and penalty. Despite this, further action and investigation are still underway, with officials expecting more instances of tax evasion to surface. Raids launched on specific intelligence Based on confidential inputs, a team from the CGST and Customs Commissionerate, Bhopal, initiated search operations on January 2 at multiple premises linked to the Kamal Kishore brand. The action pertains to the illegal supply of tobacco products under the brand name, allegedly without complying with GST norms.
During the investigation, officials detected tax evasion amounting to nearly Rs 3 crore. After the irregularities came to light, the operator involved in the illegal supply voluntarily deposited Rs 2.86 crore with the department. Truck interception led to major breakthrough The case came to light after the CGST Bhopal investigation wing intercepted a truck carrying tobacco products without a valid e-way bill. The consignment was meant for supply under the Kamal Kishore brand. This interception triggered a deeper probe, leading to simultaneous raids at the Harda-based premises of Kamal Kishore Zarda Bhandar and Kamal Kishore Agrawal Company. Undeclared machines, incriminating documents seized During the searches, officials recovered undeclared packing machines and seized incriminating documents related to the illegal supply of Zarda (chewing tobacco). Following these recoveries, the company operator made a voluntary payment of Rs 2.86 crore. Investigation ongoing Authorities have stated that the investigation is still in progress. A final assessment is yet to be completed, and officials have indicated that additional tax evasion may be detected as scrutiny continues.
The CGST department reiterated that strict action will be taken against businesses involved in tax evasion and illegal supply chains under the GST regime.