{
  "id": 11979597,
  "title": "GST 2.0 may scrap arrest powers, raise prosecution bar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/gst-2-0-may-scrap-arrest-powers-raise-prosecution-bar",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-04T13:35:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/gst-shake-up-council-weighs-ending-officials-arrest-powers-start-rs-5-crore-prosecution-threshold/articleshow/134675993.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Goods and Services Tax Council is set to discuss a major overhaul of tax enforcement during its meeting on October 7, potentially including scrapping arrest powers for GST officers and raising the prosecution threshold. PTI reported on Sunday that these changes could be part of the government's Next-Generation GST reforms. The Council may also narrow prosecution provisions, focusing on larger cases and keeping routine disputes out of the criminal process. The aim is to make enforcement more proportionate, with greater emphasis on tax recovery, interest, and penalties. Any arrest powers would shift from GST officers to courts, requiring judicial authorization for arrests. The changes would not affect the government's ability to recover taxes or impose penalties. Taxpayers found to have short-paid tax or wrongly claimed input tax credit would still face consequences. The proposals also suggest changes to prosecution provisions, potentially removing nine out of 24 offenses and reducing the minimum sentence while allowing courts more discretion. The Council is likely to consider raising the threshold for criminal prosecution from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore, reserving serious cases for the criminal process.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}