An elderly resident of Ambur has appealed for urgent intervention after his bank account was allegedly frozen in connection with a Rs 1 crore GST fraud committed using his stolen documents. The freeze has blocked access to the Rs 1000 monthly pension left by his late wife - his only source of independent income.
E. Velayudham, a resident of Maligaithoppu, told reporters on Thursday that he discovered the issue only recently when he approached his bank to ask why his pension had stopped being credited since 2023. Bank officials informed him that his account had been frozen due to unpaid GST dues linked to a company registered in his name.
The 68-year-old said he had never operated any business, had no GST registration and was unaware of the alleged dues. He suspects that his Aadhaar card and other documents were misused by unidentified individuals to set up a fraudulent company.
My documents were misused; I never ran any firm
Velayudham recalled receiving some paperwork two years ago but said he never understood the contents."In 2001, both my hip bones broke. I worked as a security guard between 2012 and 2015, but after a heart attack and surgery, I have been homebound. My son provides food, but for everything else I rely on my wife's pension," he said, breaking down.
Caught between Police and GST officials
He alleged that neither the Ambur police nor GST officials were willing to take responsibility for initiating the complaint process."Ambur police sent me to the GST office in Vellore and GST officials told me to return with a police complaint. I have visited the police station four times, but they are not taking my complaint," he said.
GST Fraud Cases rising in Ambur region
The Ambur-Vaniyambadi belt has witnessed a surge in GST-related identity theft and fraudulent registrations over the past few years. District police have acknowledged that such cases are difficult to investigate, as multiple layers of individuals are often involved in creating fake firms using stolen Aadhaar details.
Velayudham has urged authorities to restore his pension access and help him file a proper complaint, stating that he cannot survive without the small monthly amount.
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