New Delhi: The Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police has launched an investigation into three cases of identity theft involving fraudulent Goods and Services Tax (GST) transactions estimated at around Rs 141 crore. The cases were registered following complaints from individuals whose personal and business credentials were misused to obtain GST registrations and conduct large-scale tax irregularities.
Case of the 63-Year-Old Woman
In one case reported in April, a 63-year-old woman from New Delhi alleged that her PAN card details and the credentials of her former partnership firm were fraudulently used to secure GST registration. Her partnership firm, which manufactured artificial jewellery, had ceased operations in 2013. However, she later received official notices indicating that her identity and the firm's PAN had been exploited. She discovered information suggesting large-scale tax irregularities linked to a business entity that had reportedly availed input tax credit worth approximately Rs 99.8 crore.
Case of the North Delhi Businessman
In another case also reported last month, a businessman from north Delhi alleged that his PAN card details were misused to fraudulently obtain GST registration, open a fictitious business entity, and conduct high-value transactions exceeding Rs 32 crore. He claimed that unknown persons created a fake firm without his knowledge, using his personal tax identification details. The complainant stated that the GST registration was obtained using his PAN credentials with a fictitious address in Pune, Maharashtra. He told police that he had been receiving continuous notices from the income-tax department regarding transactions linked to the allegedly fraudulent entity.
Case of the Karol Bagh Firm Partners
In a third case reported in March, two businessmen, partners in a Karol Bagh-based firm that had been shut down and whose GST registration was surrendered in November 2022, alleged misuse of their firm's identity in suspected fraudulent financial transactions. The complainants stated that they had received income-tax notices referencing alleged purchases amounting to Rs 9.8 crore by another business entity. They denied any business association or transaction with the said firm or its proprietor, asserting that the entries were fabricated. "The name and PAN of our firm have been misused by unknown persons to create fictitious purchase entries, resulting in serious legal and reputational harm to us," the complainants said.
All three cases were registered under sections of cheating, criminal conspiracy, and forgery, among others. The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to uncover the full extent of the fraud and identify the perpetrators.
