The Regional Tax Office-1 has successfully apprehended Bilal Imam, the alleged orchestrator of a colossal sales tax fraud scheme amounting to Rs. 4.2 billion.

Officials reported that Imam masterminded fraudulent activities, with Rs. 1.9 billion falling under RTO-1’s jurisdiction and Rs. 2.3 billion overseen by the Large Taxpayers Office. Evading capture for 18 months, Imam and his brother remained at large despite multiple First Information Reports filed against them.

Following his arrest, Imam appeared before the Special Judge of Customs, Taxation and Anti-Corruption, who granted a four-day physical remand for further investigation. Authorities have initiated a thorough probe to assess the full extent of the financial damage inflicted on the national treasury.

Dr. Fahim Mohammad, Chief Commissioner of RTO-1, lauded his team for capturing such a significant figure in tax evasion. He emphasized the ongoing efforts to combat tax fraud and hold accountable those involved in fiscal illegalities.

This arrest marks a significant step in the crackdown on tax evaders, with potential revelations of connections to other high-profile tax fraud operations expected.