Title - Tax raids on railway stations across state

The Kerala Commercial Taxes Department on Thursday conducted a surprise raid on the railway stations across the state.The raid was conducted on the basis of a tip-off by the intelligence wing of the Commercial Taxes Department on the massive commercial tax evasion in the transportation of goods from other states through the Railways.The raid was conducted on the North and South Railway stations, and also on the Aluva and the Angamaly Railway stations. The raid, which  started early in the morning, continued till evening.The officials of the Kerala Commercial Taxes Department, Ernakulam Division, said that, an amount of `6 lakh has been collected in the form of taxes and fines after seizing more than 323 bundles from the Ernakulam North and South Railway stations.The fine was charged from 213 people who had  brought in goods without paying the commercial tax. In Aluva Railway station, they seized seven parcels and an amount of `4,000 was collected as fine. In Angamaly, as many as 11 parcels were seized, and an amount of `2,500 was collected. The raid was also conducted at the Thripunithura Railway station, where no tax evasion was reported.The raids were also conducted in Thrissur and Palakkad districts which come under the jurisdiction of the Ernakulam Division. In Thrissur, the raids were conducted on Thrissur and Guruvayur Railway stations. A total of 108 parcels were seized and taxes and fines to the tune of `1.86 lakh were collected.

In Palakkad district, the raid was held only on the Palakkad station, from where the department seized 56 parcels and collected an amount of `85,630.The majority of the goods seized by the department were from New Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Salem and Trichy.

According to the officials, the majority of the products were electric and electronic goods, spare parts and ready-made garments. The raid was coordinated across the state by the Commissioner of the  Commercial Taxes Department.

Meanwhile, in the sales tax raid at the Central railway station in Thiruvananthapuram, 30 bundles of parcels without proper sale tax receipts were seized. They were taken to the Sales Tax office here.

Those who have booked the parcels can take them from the office after paying the tax. The sales tax officials also imposed a fine of `40,000 for various articles which were transported in trains without proper documents.