Gutkha trader, associates face ₹2002-crore notice:Authorities say accused evaded ₹1946 crore in taxes and must additionally pay ₹75.67 crore excise duty

The Central GST Excise Commissionerate, Indore, has issued a tax demand notice worth Rs 2,002 crore to Gutkha businessman Kishore Wadhwani and his several associates. This is being termed the largest tax demand notice ever issued in Madhya Pradesh. Along with the total demand, the department has imposed Rs 75.67 crore in excise duty, identifying a tax evasion of Rs 1,946 crore. Entities and individuals named in the notice The notice has been issued to the following companies and individuals in connection with the tax evasion case: Elora Tobacco, Dabang Dunia Publication, Kishore Wadhwani, Shyam Khemnani, Anmol Mishra, Dharmendra Pithadia, Raju Garg, M/s Shimla Industries Pvt Ltd, Devendra Dwivedi, Vinayaka Filtered Pvt Ltd, Vinod Bidasaria Additionally, Ramesh Parihar, TAN Enterprises, SR Trading, Nishka Enterprises, M/s Ink Fruit, M/s MN Enterprises, M/s Rani Press Pvt Ltd, Jauhar Hasan, and NG Graphics Block Makers are also named in the tax demand. Background: Raids conducted in 2020 In June 2020, the Central GST Excise Commissionerate carried out raids on these companies. Investigations confirmed large-scale tax evasion, following which the demand notice was finally issued on 6 December 2025 after a prolonged legal process. High Court and Supreme Court reject appeals Wadhwani and the Elora group pursued an extended legal battle, challenging the department’s findings in the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and later in the Supreme Court. High Court Indore bench dismissed their appeal and also imposed a penalty of Rs 2 lakh, and criticised the appellants for deliberately delaying the case. On 2 December 2025, the Supreme Court rejected their appeal, upholding the High Court order. With the Supreme Court’s dismissal, the long-pending tax demand notices were cleared for issuance.