The Vakola police have registered an FIR against an unidentified person after a 31-year-old security guard received an Income Tax notice despite earning only Rs 3 lakh per year. Investigations have since uncovered that the guard's PAN card was fraudulently used to register a company that later defaulted after conducting transactions worth Rs 2.2 crore.
Guard Shocked After Receiving Tax Notices
The complainant, Austin Froes, a Panvel resident who works as a security guard for a Caribbean shipping company in Santacruz East, received the first IT notice in April 2025 for non-payment of taxes for FY 2020-21 and 2021-22. Believing it to be an error or spam, he ignored it.
However, a second notice arrived in July, prompting his wife to consult a chartered accountant. The professional confirmed the notice was genuine, after which the couple approached the Income Tax office in Dadar.
PAN Used to Create Company and GST Profile
IT officials informed Froes that a company named Graphical Trading Company had been registered in 2019 using his PAN, and a GST number was issued under it. Subsequent business transactions worth Rs 2.2 crore were carried out in the company's name before it defaulted.
Further inquiry revealed that while the PAN number matched, the photograph and signature linked to the fraudulent company's documents did not belong to Froes, confirming identity theft.
FIR Registered for Cheating and Forgery
Based on Froes' complaint, the Vakola police filed an FIR against unknown accused under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:
- Section 420 - Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property
- Section 467 - Forgery of valuable security
- Additional sections relating to identity fraud and falsification of documents
Police are now working to trace the individuals behind the fake company registration and GST fraud. The case highlights the growing risk of PAN misuse, leading to serious tax liabilities for innocent individuals.
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