In a startling case of identity theft and GST fraud, a daily-wage labourer from Bohna Chowk, Moga, has been served a notice of Rs 35 crore by the GST department, despite having no business or PAN card. The labourer, Ajmer Singh, told the media that he had "no idea how such a huge amount" was linked to his name.
It emerged that a company named Cee Kay International was registered fraudulently in his name, using his Aadhaar and PAN details. The company was shown at an industrial estate on Gill Road in Ludhiana. Based on those forged credentials, transactions running into crores were carried out.
Ajmer revealed that he had already received a GST notice for Rs 21 lakh in 2022 and had sought verification from the GST office then, but no action was taken. This time, the figure has jumped dramatically, leaving him and his family stunned.
The labourer suspects misuse of his personal documents during the COVID-19 period when a social agency collected Aadhaar cards for ration distribution. Government officials advised Ajmer to file a police complaint, which he has done at Moga City South Police Station, pressing for a full investigation.
Local councillor Jagjit Singh "Jeeta" condemned the incident as a "gross injustice to a poor man" and called for severe punishment against those involved. The police have begun examining the case, and further action is awaited.
This incident highlights the growing misuse of identity credentials in tax fraud and underscores the urgent need for tighter safeguards in GST registration and document verification protocols.
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