In a major crackdown on tax evasion and irregularities in the publication sector, authorities in Dehradun have conducted multiple raids on prominent bookstores. Complaints from parents about overpriced books and stationery have led to decisive action against establishments with alleged links to private schools.
City Magistrate Pratyush Singh, along with three Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) Hari Giri, Gauri Prabhat, and Kumkum Joshi, spearheaded the inspections. The teams targeted shops involved in GST evasion, fake publications, and improper ISBN tracking. Prominent establishments like Universal Book Depot, National Book Depot, and Brother Pustak Bhandar were subjected to scrutiny.
During the raids, officials seized stock registers, bill books, and other financial records. FIRs were filed against these businesses under serious charges. As a result, operations at Brother Pustak Bhandar on Subhash Road have been halted until further notice.
According to reports, many schools have been pressuring parents to buy books and stationery from specific shops at inflated prices. District Magistrate Savin Bansal has instructed strict measures against these education mafias. There are also growing concerns about the possible involvement of school administrations in the malpractice.
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Authorities assured that investigations are ongoing, and any further violations will be dealt with firmly. Chief Education Officer Vinod Kumar and Assistant State Commissioner Avinash Pandey were also part of the inspection teams.
This crackdown aims to bring transparency and ensure fair pricing for educational materials, protecting parents from financial exploitation.
