21,791 fake GST registrations unearthed, Rs. 24,000cr evasion suspected: FM

During a recent two-month special drive, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that GST officers discovered 21,791 fake GST registrations and over Rs. 24,000 crore in suspected tax evasion. In a written response to the Rajya Sabha, she emphasized the need to protect honest taxpayers and avoid extreme hardship for taxpayers. Sitharaman said that instructions have been issued from time to time, directing officers to exercise caution when using powers such as summons, provisional attachment of property, and blocking tax credit.