Three individuals, in a shocking revelation of identity theft and financial fraud, - a farmer from Sarwad, another from Bhinay and a labourer from Ajmer- have found themselves entangled in a massive Rs 145.16 crore GST scam. Fraudsters allegedly misused their documents to open fake companies and bank accounts in Mumbai, leading to high-value transactions that have now triggered GST and police notices against the victims.
Ramraj Chaudhary: PAN Misused for Rs 143 Crore Transactions
Ramraj Chaudhary, a 12th-pass farmer from Sarwad, received a GST notice on April 3, 2025, from Delhi officials and was shocked to learn that his PAN had been used to open a fake firm, Neetiya Exim, and a Kotak Mahindra Bank account in Mumbai. The fraudulent entity recorded transactions worth Rs 143 crore during 2020-21. Ramraj asserts that he has never been to Mumbai nor started any business. Despite multiple complaints to local and cyber police, no FIR has been registered. The stress of being implicated in such a large-scale financial scam has taken a severe mental toll on him.
Omprakash Gurjar: Bike Loan Turns into Nightmare
Another victim, Omprakash Gurjar from Bhinay, is facing harassment from GST authorities and CID over Rs 1.26 crore transactions linked to a fake account at IDBI Bank, Mumbai. Gurjar had submitted his PAN, Aadhaar, and photo to one Chothmal Gurjar in 2021 for a bike loan. These documents were later misused without his knowledge. He was never linked to the mobile number or email ID associated with the fraudulent bank account. Despite receiving multiple legal notices and enduring unannounced CID visits, local authorities took no action until he approached Ajmer SP Vandita Rana.
Bhagwan Das Sahu: Labourer Duped Amid Job Crisis
The third victim, Bhagwan Das Sahu, a labourer residing near Delhi Gate, was targeted during the COVID-19 lockdown. He was promised a job by one Deepak Khatik and asked to provide his identity documents. Those were later used to open a fake firm in Mumbai and carry out transactions worth Rs 90 lakh through a Kotak Mahindra Bank account. He, too discovered the fraud only after receiving a GST notice. Already devastated by a recent family tragedy, Sahu's family broke down in front of the SP while seeking justice.
Systemic Lapses and Victims' Plea for Justice
All three victims have filed complaints with Ajmer SP Vandita Rana, citing inaction by local and cyber police. They allege that their repeated pleas for help were ignored until the involvement of senior district-level officials. The fraud has exposed critical loopholes in document verification and KYC norms followed by banks and GST registration authorities.
Growing Concerns Over Identity Theft and Fake Firms
This case highlights the alarming rise in the use of fake documents to create shell firms and carry out fraudulent financial activities. Experts urge stronger mechanisms for PAN and Aadhaar validation, and proactive cross-verification of GST registrations. The mental trauma, reputational damage, and legal troubles faced by these innocent victims underscore the urgent need for systemic reforms.
Investigation Demanded
The victims are now demanding a thorough investigation into how their identities were misused, and how banks and GST authorities allowed such transactions without proper verification. The case has raised questions about regulatory oversight in India's financial and taxation systems.
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