GST searches on Tollywood actress Lavanya Tripathi

Hyderabad: Director General of GST intelligence sleuths along with GST commissionarate officials of Hyderabad on Friday conducted searches on Tollywood actress Lavanya Tripathi and found service tax evasion of around Rs 20 lakh.

GST officials told NewsMeter that searches are conducted at 23 locations in Hyderabad consecutively for the third day.

'Searches are conducted on various sectors including entertainment, media houses, financial services, consultancy, infra companies and fitness centres," said an official.

The sleuths searched the house of Lavanya Tripathi who recently acted in lead female role in Arjun Survaram starring Nikhil. Lavanya is Uttarkhand born and acted in several Tollywood films like Arjun Suravaram, Antariksham 9000 kmph, Parvathi(Paroo), Dharma Bhai, Vunnadhi Okate Zindagi, Yuddham Sharanam, Maayavan, Radha, Mister, Srirastu Subhamastu, Lacchimdeviki O Lekkundi, Sokkali Mainor, Bale Bale Magadivoy, Chalien School, Bramman, Doosukeltha and Andala Rakshasi. Lavanya who started her film career in 2012, acted in Tamil Films as well.

GST Sleuths also conducted searches on RKR infra company besides consultancy companies sending medical students to the Philippines, chit fund companies, Fitness centres. Searches on Unified Council that conducted Maths Olympiad in several schools and found that it hasn't paid Rs 2.5 crore.

"The evasion is about both service tax and GST regime. Other companies and individuals can come forward to disclose voluntarily under Sabka Viswas Voluntary disclosure scheme. Once the search is conducted, they can't use the scheme,"

Over the past two days GST Intel wing conducted searches on schools like Spring Board Academy where it was found round Rs 18 lakh hasn't been paid. The officials found one SRK constructions based in Hyderabad and which is into National Highway Projects has an exposure of Rs 32 crore. So far in the past three days around Rs 60 crore tax evasion has been found.