May 09--A former owner and shareholder of a Jasper County hotel was arrested today by the S.C. Department of Revenue for evading sales taxes for seven years, according to a news release.

Ravindra Parmar, 57, was a part-owner of the Quality Inn and Suites on Whyte Hardee Boulevard in Hardeeville from 2005 to 2011. While filing sales tax returns over that time period, Parmar allegedly included fraudulent deductions that added up to about $1.62 million, according to the release.

An audit of the hotel's corporate income tax returns determined Parmar also failed to report $240,131 in sales from 2008 to 2010, the release said.

By falsifying deductions and underreporting sales, use and accommodations tax, Parmar allegedly evaded about $181,371 in sales tax due to the state, the release said.

If convicted of seven charges filed against him, Parmar could face up to $70,000 in fines and/or up to 35 years in prison, the release said.

Parmar is currently in the Jasper County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.

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