The State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) department conducted raids at 27 locations across 15 waterparks in seven districts of the state, uncovering unaccounted transactions worth a staggering Rs 57 crore. The districts targeted in the operation included Ahmedabad, Himmatnagar, Navsari, Mehsana, Rajkot, Kheda and Banaskantha.
The waterparks under scrutiny included well-known names such as Flamingo Waterpark & Resort, 7S Waterpark & Adventure, Jaldhara Water World and Swapnasrushti Water Park in Ahmedabad; Water Ville Water Park and Suswa Water Park in Himmatnagar; Bliss Aqua Water Resort and Shree Ganesha Fun World in Mehsana; and Modi Water Resort and Amusement Park, Aquatic Water Park, The Heaven Water Park and Resort & Restaurant and The Summer Waves Water Park in Navsari, among others.
The SGST department’s investigation revealed a pattern of tax evasion through cash transactions that were not recorded in official books. This led to the discovery of tax evasion worth Rs 57 crore.
The raids at Modi Water Resort and Amusement Park in Navsari, which began on Thursday evening, continued into the second day. The investigation revealed discrepancies in tax filings related to entry tickets, room rents and food sales. The SGST department seized documents and data on tax payments for various services, revealing that only digital transactions from online bookings were accounted for in tax filings.
Spot audits further highlighted the extent of tax evasion, showing a significant underreporting of taxes.
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