ORDER :

1. This is an application for regular bail. The petitioner viz. Neeraj Karande is sole accused in F. No. INV/DGGI/HZU/GST/Gr-H/42/2020-21 dated 02.11.2020. The offence alleged against the petitioner is under Section 132(1)(i) read with Section 132(1)(b)(c) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (for short ‘CGST Act’).

2. Heard Sri. T. Bala Mohan Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Sri P. Dharmesh, learned standing counsel for the respondent. Perused the record.

3. The allegation against the petitioner is that he is managing director of M/s. GE Godavari Engineering Industries Limited (hereinafter referred to as ‘Company’). The petitioner has obtained registration under the provisions of the CGST Act vide GSTIN No. 36AACCG9862H3Z7. Being the managing director of the company, the petitioner has collected and issued invoice or bill without supply of goods in violation of the provisions of the CGST Act or the rules made thereunder leading to wrongful availment or utilization of input tax credit rendered by him. The modus operandi adopted by the petitioner is that he indulged in issuing GST invoices, e-way bills and passing on input tax credit to various customer