Hyderabad: The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), Hyderabad zonal unit, has intensified its probe into alleged GST irregularities linked to a multi-crore online betting case, by conducting searches at three technology and fintech firms in Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru.The multi-city operation, which concluded last week, led to the seizure of key documents, digital evidence and enforcement action under provisions of the CGST Act, sources said. During the searches, DGGI officers recovered documents and electronic records from IppoPay Technologies Private Ltd, pasted summons at the premises of RUGR Fintech Pvt Ltd after finding its office shut with a work from home notice, and sealed the Bengaluru office of DecFin Tech Pvt Ltd under section 67(4) of the CGST Act, citing concerns of possible evidence tampering. Statements were recorded from key executives of Ippopay, while RUGR’s director was asked to appear for inquiry after repeated calls and messages went unanswered, DGGI sources said. Digital records seized The search at IppoPay was carried out last month at its Chennai office. DGGI sources said officers gained entry into the premises and found incriminating documents along with relevant electronic data stored on hard drives and laptops.Staff members provided voluntary statements and submitted data from cloud storage, mobile phones and laptops. However, senior management, including the director and chief technology officer, were unavailable, with their phones switched off or unreachable, sources added. Attempts to search the Bengaluru office of RUGR on March 30 and April 1 remained unsuccessful due to what sources described as ‘non-cooperation’. Sources said the directors did not respond to calls or messages from DGGI officers. With the search unexecuted, officers sent summons under section 70 of the CGST Act, directing director KV Arangasamy to appear for inquiry on April 8. In the case of DecFin, officers visited the Bengaluru office on April 2 but found it locked. The building manager informed them that the office had remained shut for two days due to ‘networking issues’, sources said.Citing non-cooperation and apprehension that crucial evidence could be tampered with, officers sealed the premises under section 67(4) of the CGST Act.The latest action comes as DGGI Hyderabad continues its investigation into the online betting-linked GST case, in which Fino Payments Bank CEO Rishi Gupta has already been arrested. Telangana high court has dismissed his plea seeking to quash the case and grant bail.
