# Assam GST and tax fraud investigation

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/assam-gst-and-tax-fraud-investigation
> Updated: 2026-08-29T05:54:35.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

The Assam Police Special Task Force conducted a series of raids in early August to dismantle a pan-India GST and fraudulent Input Tax Credit (ITC) scheme. The operation resulted in the arrest of three suspects from Kolkata—Vineet Kumar Poddar, Vivek Kumar Gupta, and Surajit Barman—bringing the total number of detainees to twelve.

Authorities have linked this fraudulent network to the Shahzad Bhatti Network, which is alleged to operate under the direction of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The investigation into the network remains ongoing.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-29: Kolkata Police recover phones and cash from terrorist mastermind's cell

Kolkata Police recovered mobile phones, internet devices, and cash from the prison cell of Aftab Ansari, the mastermind of the 2002 American Centre attack, sparking an investigation into prison security.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kolkata-police-recover-phones-and-cash-from-terrorist-masterminds-cell

### 2026-08-05: Assam Police Special Task Force arrests three Kolkata suspects in GST and ITC fraud

Assam STF arrested three Kolkata suspects in a GST/ITC fraud ring, seizing phones and documents; the case ties to the Pakistan‑linked Shahzad Bhatti Network.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/assam-police-special-task-force-arrests-three-kolkata-suspects-in-gst-and-itc-fraud

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Cite as: Assam GST and tax fraud investigation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/assam-gst-and-tax-fraud-investigation