The Department of Revenue Investigation has filed cases against two traders for tax evasion.

The department has accused Lumbini Pan Masala and Surti-Gutkha Udhyog for not using the excise duty stickers on their products. The tobacco factory has also been charged with using counterfeit stickers in its products while selling the products to its distributors and wholesalers.

The department on Wednesday filed cases at Bara District Court against the factory’s proprietor and its distributor and raw material supplier seeking Rs583.71 million in fines and amount in question plus up to three years’ imprisonment. The department sought fines of Rs330.6 million against Abdullah Musalman, proprietor of Lumbini Pan Masala. Similarly, the department has also sought Rs229.46 million in fines from Bharat Adhikari, proprietor of Shine Traders-distributor of Lumbini Pan Masala Likewise, Mohammad Rehan, proprietor of New Paschimanchal Traders and raw material supplier to the factory will face a fine of Rs22.94 million and a jail term if found guilty.

Likewise, the department also filed a case against Birendra Bahadur Kurmi, proprietor of H & B Trade Concern, on charge of conducting revenue leakage by using counterfeit bills. It has sought Rs26.46 million in fines and amount in question plus up to three years’ imprisonment against Kurmi in a case filed at Kathmandu District Court on Wednesday.

In a separate case, the department has accused Indian citizen Bandana Sani Potfode of revenue leakage through misappropriation of foreign currencies. The accused was arrested at Tribhuvan International Airport on May 10 while attempting to leave the country carrying currency worth $100,000.

The department on Tuesday filed cases against the Indian citizen at Kathmandu District Court seeking Rs107.65 million in fines that includes the amount in question plus up to three years’ imprisonment.