Parliamentarians demand jail term for fake VAT bill producers

Parliamentarians demanded jail term for the fake VAT bill producers, as according to them, it’s a serious financial crime.
Along with the Finance Ministry officials, who have disrespected Public Accounts Committee (PAC) under Legislature Parliament meaning contempt of the Parliament, the traders should also be jailed according to the law.
PAC member Keshab Nepal said that the Finance Ministry officials have disrespected the Parliamentary committee by hiding the detail information regarding VAT fraud scam. “Officials at the ministry should face action as they did not provide the report when PAC asked for it," he said.
Chairman of the committee Dhan Raj Gurung agreed. “The ministry officials have bypassed the PAC, which is contempt of Parliament," he said, adding that the fake VAT bills producers should also be booked as it is a serious financial crime."Cheating national coffer by producing fake bills is apparently criminal activity and persons involved in such activities should be imprisoned," another PAC member Rabindra Adhikari said, adding that there is difference between fixing low revenue and producing fake VAT bills. “The state should not spare, those who have produced fake VAT bills and robbed the national treasury without any trade and transaction," he added.
Earlier on April 3, the committee had asked the Finance Ministry to submit investigation report along with names of all firms, fines and other action prescribed against them.
After the ministry's denial, the lawmakers at the committee on April 8 have labelled Finance Ministry as a ‘bigger criminal’ for protecting VAT defaulters.
However, the ministry has handed over the report to Taranath Dahal of Freedom Forum on Sunday after the National Information Commission directed the ministry to respect right to information.
The report revealed that some traders are robbing the government faking VAT bills without any trading and transactions.Meanwhile, the PAC today summoned Finance Minister, Finance Secretary and Chief Information Commissioner and National Information Commission members tomorrow.