Duty evasion to the tune of more than Rs 1,900 crore was detected today during raids conducted by commercial tax department on gutkha and pan masala units in different parts of Uttar Pradesh, an official here said.

"During raids on 10 gutkha and pan masala manufacturing and selling firms, tax evasion of more than Rs 1,900 crore in the first nine months of the current fiscal has been detected," he said.

Tax raids were carried out at different places in Lucknow, Mathura, Ghaziabad and Noida, he said, adding that the records of these firms are being examined and the quantum of tax evasion is likely to rise further.

The spokesman said during raids it was detected that units in Lucknow concealed sales of Rs 1,300 crore in the last month which attracted a tax liability of Rs 240 crore.