KATHMANDU: Five companies including Bhatbhateni Departmental Store have been pronounced guilty of evading revenue through fake VAT bills.

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday upheld the decision of the Revenue Tribunal.

A joint bench of Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JBR and Justice Prakash Dhungana ordered Bhatbhateni, Shankar Oxygen, Varun Intercontinental Traders, AIT and BS Baniya Stores and Firm to deposit Rs 20 billion revenue.

Bhatbhateni used to purchase fake bills from 36 different companies. It used to prepare fake bills for goods it has not imported. The Revenue Tribunal on July 10, 2017, had pronounced Bhatbhateni of evading revenue through fake VAT bills.