Hyderabad: Commercial Taxes Department raids 25 premises over illegal pan masala trade

The Telangana Commercial Taxes Department inspected 25 premises across Hyderabad and uncovered an unauthorised pan masala manufacturing unit near Barkas. Officials seized machinery, counterfeit packaging and unaccounted tobacco products while investigating possible tax evasion and illegal distribution networks.

Hyderabad: The Telangana Commercial Taxes Department has intensified its crackdown on the illegal manufacture, storage and trade of pan masala and other tobacco products, inspecting 25 premises across Hyderabad on Tuesday.

Acting on specific inputs, department officials conducted inspections and uncovered an unauthorised manufacturing unit operating from a residential premises at Errakunta, near Barkas. Substantial quantities of raw materials, chemicals and other manufacturing material were found at the premises.

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Officials also found counterfeit packaging material carrying the names and branding of several popular pan masala brands, including RMD, Goa 100, Badshah, Zaffrani Gold and Vimal Pan Masala. Machinery, finished goods, and packing material found at the unit were seized during the raid by the officials.

The department also carried out inspections at several premises in Begum Bazaar, Feelkhana, Tolichowki, Golconda, Bada Bazaar, Langar Houz and Babanagar. During the searches, officials detected and seized unaccounted stocks of pan masala and other tobacco products.

Further investigation is underway to establish the source, movement and distribution network of the goods and determine the extent of tax evasion. The department said appropriate action would be initiated under the Telangana Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, and other applicable laws.

The Commercial Taxes Department has warned manufacturers, traders and other stakeholders dealing in pan masala and related commodities to comply with statutory requirements and maintain proper records and accounts.

Officials said strict action would be taken against those found indulging in tax evasion, clandestine manufacture, stocking of unaccounted goods or suppression of taxable transactions.