Presence Of Gold In Pocket Without The Appropriate Documentation Raises Suspicions Of Tax Evasion: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that the presence of gold in your pocket without the appropriate documentation raises suspicions of tax evasion.The bench of Justice Gopinath P. has observed that there is no satisfactory explanation for the fact that there was a discrepancy in the number of documents produced by the petitioner in the evening before the department and the quantity of gold actually recovered from the petitioner.The petitioner is the proprietor of an establishment known as "One Gold," which has its place of business at Chembukkavu in the Thrissur district. One of the close friends of the petitioner was traveling by train from Thrissur to Alleppy. He was carrying some gold ornaments from Thrissur to Alleppy at the instance of the petitioner.The friend of the petitioner was detained by the officials of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). On being questioned as to the documents available for carrying the gold, he is stated to have shown certain documents on his mobile phone, which did not appear satisfactory to the Railway Protection Force. The petitioner reportedly brought certain documents, which the petitioner claimed were sufficient to establish that the gold was being transported legitimately and in full compliance with GST laws.The railway police, however, entrusted the matter to the GST Department.The petitioners contended that, by the time the GST officials intercepted the goods, the goods had every document necessary to prove that they were being transported in full compliance with the GST laws.The petitioner submitted that by completely ignoring the documents available to the petitioners, the respondent initiated and concluded proceedings under Section 130 of the CGST/SGST Acts.The court did not find that there was any malice, ill will, or lack of jurisdiction in initiating proceedings under Section 130 of the CGST/SGST Acts.The court, while dismissing the writ petition, held that it would be open to the petitioners to raise all their contentions before the appellate authority. On appeal being filed, the appellate authority shall consider the matter untrammeled by any observations contained in this judgment.Case Title: Sasi Pathirakunnath Versus Assistant State Tax OfficerCitation: WP(C) NO. 31445 Of 2022Citation: 2023 LiveLaw(Ker) 21Date: 18.01.2023Counsel For Petitioner: Advocate Tomson T. EmmanuelCounsel For Respondent: Advocate Thushara JamesClick Here To Read The Order

Presence Of Gold In Pocket Without The Appropriate Documentation Raises Suspicions Of Tax Evasion: Kerala High Court

Mariya Paliwala

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