This Aligarh 'kachori' seller earns over Rs 60 lakh annually, 'stunned' tax dept sends him notice

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comment on ‘pakoda’-selling may still be a matter of discussion for some people, but a simple shop selling spicy 'kachoris' in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh has left the commercial tax sleuths astounded. So much so that the 10 to 12-year-old shop selling kachoris - a popular snack in Uttar Pradesh - has come under the lens of commercial tax department. Tax officials have found that Mukesh, the shopowner, was earning anywhere between Rs 60 lakhs and Rs 1 crore and even more annually.

The shop, known as 'Mukesh Kachori', is located near Seema cinema hall and is a favourite among the locals. Mukesh begins selling 'kachoris' and 'samosas' in the morning and continues through the day, according to news agency IANS.

The report added that a team of tax inspectors sat at another shop near Mukesh Kachori and started keeping track of sales. They found that Mukesh was earning anywhere up to Rs. 1 crore.

“We had to search for the outlet. We initially conducted a recce by watching the turnout of customers at different timings. After making an assessment, we got a search warrant on June 21. During the survey, the seller himself gave out the details which indicated that his turnover was in lakhs of rupees,” deputy commissioner, commercial tax (Aligarh range), Ravindra Pal Singh Kauntiye told Hindustan Times.

“Till March 31, businessmen having a turnover above Rs 20 lakh were required to have registration for the goods and services tax (GST) but from April 1, the limit has gone up to Rs 40 lakh. This ‘kachori’ seller, despite having a high turnover, had no GST registration,” Kauntiye added.

Mukesh, the shopkeeper says,"My shop was raided on June 20. My daily sale is around Rs. 2000-3000. Modi Ji had said that GST registration is required in turnover of more than Rs 40 lakh, my income is not even half of it. These people are threatening me now." pic.twitter.com/vv4H8HkLhp

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Denying the charges, Mukesh: "My shop was raided on June 20. My daily sale is around Rs 2000-3000. Modi ji had said that GST registration is required in turnover of more than Rs 40 lakh, my income is not even half of it. These people are threatening me now."