more-in KOCHI: Commercial Taxes Department officials seized diamond-studded gold ornaments worth ?22 lakh from a woman who arrived in Kochi from Mumbai the other day. A native of Thane in Maharashtra, the woman was first intercepted at the airport by the Income Tax Air Intelligence Unit on a tip-off that she was carrying diamond-studded ornaments without valid documents. “The ornaments, kept in her hand baggage, comprised both real and American diamonds. They were meant for jewellery outlets in Kochi. She had no valid documents like e-bills or the GST KER 1 declaration for the consignment,” officials said. They are yet to ascertain the source of the ornaments and details of her customers in Kochi. The seized ornaments were later handed over to the Commercial Taxes Department, which directed the woman to pay tax plus a penalty of ?1.3 lakh. S. Shivankutty, Deputy Commissioner (Intelligence), Commercials Tax Department, said the authorities had strengthened vigil following reports that traders were reluctant to pass the benefit of the new tax regime to customers. Recently, a fine of ?25,000 was imposed on the charge of manipulating taxes. Similarly, statutory notices were issued to various other commercial establishments under the GST Act and Rules for offences including malpractices in invoicing.

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