The chief judicial magistrate of Surat has sent to judicial custody proprietors of two companies for evading service tax.

The central excise and customs had arrested Jitendra Ganpat Patel, proprietor of Jay Construction, at Hazira on Monday and Yogesh B Patel, proprietor of RK Construction in two separate cases for evading service tax to the tune of Rs 62 lakh and Rs 93 lakh, respectively.

Jitendra Ganpat Patel was presented before the chief judicial magistrate on Monday and he was sent to judicial custody until March 14. Yogesh Patel was arrested and produced before the court on Tuesday. He was sent to judicial custody until March 15.

Sources said the duo was supplying manpower to giant industries in Hazira for the past many years and not paying outstanding service tax liabilities.

"This will send strong signals among the tax evaders that they need to pay up their outstanding taxes or face arrests. We have started preparing the list of the tax evaders in and around the city," said a senior central excise and customs officer.