SC: High Courts should know arrest possible for GST evasion

New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that High Courts across the country should keep in mind that a person can be arrested for evasion of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the competent authority.The apex court had earlier upheld a Telangana High Court verdict which declined to entertain a plea against the provision of arrest.A vacation bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi observed that High Courts have not taken a consistent view on granting anticipatory bail to individuals accused for GST evasion.The court also said that the matter be placed before a three-judge bench to decide on the scope of law regarding the power of arrest. The court issued notice on a petition by the Centre seeking clarification on the powers of concerned officials under the GST Act to arrest an individual without registering an FIR.
--IANS ss/mr/pg