Jamshedpur: A massive GST Intelligence operation underwent through Chaibasa’s business circles as simultaneous raids targeting three prominent businessmen entered their second day on Saturday. The individuals under scrutiny include Nitin Prakash and Pankaj Chirania, known partners in the popular Jharkhand Khaini brand, along with Pintu Agarwal, a close associate and business agent in the same network.
The high-profile raid, which began around 3 PM on Friday, has continued uninterrupted for over 24 hours. A team of officials, arriving in a convoy of six vehicles—some bearing registration plates from West Bengal and others from Jharkhand—launched coordinated search operations at multiple residential and commercial locations linked to the trio.
According to sources, Nitin Prakash’s residence in Nimdih and his office located in Sadar Bazar are among the key sites being combed through by the GST team. In parallel, Pankaj Chirania’s home is also under investigation. A third location, the residence of Pintu Agarwal, who is believed to be a distribution agent of the Jharkhand Khaini brand, is likewise the focus of the operation.
In addition to these locations, GST sleuths have extended their probe to other business units reportedly connected to the suspects. These include a rice mill and a factory in Adityapur engaged in the production of sattu and besan—commodities that have seen significant commercial growth in recent years. Insiders reveal that officials are meticulously examining financial records, stock ledgers, invoices, and digital documents that may hold evidence of tax evasion or irregularities.
The scale of the operation points to more than just scrutiny of the khaini trade. Nitin Prakash, the central figure in the investigation, is reportedly engaged in a diversified portfolio—ranging from rice milling and chana dal production to various agro-based food manufacturing ventures. His long-standing partner, Pankaj Chirania, is similarly involved in these verticals, while Pintu Agarwal is active not just in the tobacco sector but also in the rice and food grain trade.
The sudden and expansive nature of the raids has caused visible unease among Chaibasa’s trading community. Local businessmen are reportedly on edge, fearing further action or being drawn into the widening probe. Some are said to be reviewing their own accounts and tax filings, anticipating a domino effect.
As of 3 PM on Saturday, there has been no official statement from the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) regarding the outcome of the search or any seizures. However, it is understood that a significant volume of documents and possibly unaccounted stock or cash may have been recovered.
This raid comes amid a broader national crackdown on tax evasion and unaccounted income in the unorganized tobacco and agro-goods sector, which has been under the scanner due to its cash-intensive nature and frequent discrepancies in GST compliance.
