GST evasion of Rs.30,000 crore unearthed A nationwide crackdown by the GST authorities uncovered tax evasion to the tune of Rs.30,000 crore, allegedly carried out via stolen identities including as many as 18,000 PAN and Aadhaar cards, people familiar with the development said

The identities of beneficiaries of PM Kisan and other social security schemes were allegedly used to operate 4,000 shell companies and 16,000 fake GST registrations.

The GST authorities launched the two-month anti-evasion exercise on May 16 and about 10,000 fake registrations were detected in the first week.

The GST authorities have roped in other agencies including the Income Tax Dept, Enforcement Directorate and Corporate affairs Ministry, which are initiating separate actions against the individuals and firms involved in view of the organised nature evasion spread across 16 states

Tax authorities have carried out searches at multiple locations and have arrested seven persons in this connection.

"It was a huge organised racket operating in 16 states creating shell companies and fake GST registration by stealing data from PM Kisan, Rural employment scheme and other schemes," a senior official told.