Uttarakhand GST dept files 3,500-page charge sheet in illegal timber trade case. The charge sheet against the mastermind, Hussain, was carried by SIB officials, conducted under Uttarakhand tax department officials such as Commissioner, Addl. Commissioner and Joint Commissioner.

The charge sheet is filed in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate against Shahnawaz Hussain, the mastermind of the illegal timber trade.

Hussain, who was arrested on October 22, is alleged to be the brain behind the gang which engaged in the trade of timber through fake companies and forged bills, swindling the state of crores of rupees in tax evasion.

So far, the investigators have unearthed an estimated GST theft of more than Rs 18 crore on a Rs 100-crore timber turnover. The charge sheet comes after a yearlong investigation carried out by a team of SIB officials