Big companies will be caught if they don’t pass on GST benefit to customers: Adhia

New Delhi, Nov 25 (IANS) Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia on Saturday said it is mandatory for the big companies to pass on the benefit of reduced Goods and Services Tax (GST) to the end-consumer or else the government will act against them.

"We have now reduced taxes of bigger items. If we see any anomaly we will not get hold of the small retailers, we will catch the bigger companies," Adhia told DD News.

The Goods and Services Tax Council during its last meeting on November 10 has lowered tax rates on 178 items from 28 per cent to 18 per cent. Most goods under the 28 per cent slab earlier, except demerit goods, will now be taxed lower.

Regarding government's demonetisation drive, Adhia said it was meant to cleanse the system and do away with black money.

"Demonetisation was meant to cleanse the system and do away with black money."

He further said people had lot of cash stashed away in the houses, demonetisation has brought those hidden cash into the main banking channel.

"People had lot of cash stashed away in their houses with which they bought only luxury items. Demonetisation has brought those money into banking channel and it will be now used for lending to people," he added.

The Indian government on November 8, 2016 started the demonetisation drive by banning high denomination Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.