Case of Identity Theft Uncovered in Rajasthan
A case of identity theft has come to light in Rajasthan, involving a labourer named Veerdharam. He discovered that a fake firm had been registered in his name in Delhi, which carried out transactions worth over Rs 18 crore. The fraud was uncovered when he attempted to file his income tax return, only to find his PAN, Aadhaar, and mobile number had been misused. Additionally, the firm has reportedly evaded over Rs 3 crore in GST, prompting an investigation by police and GST officials.
How the Fraud was Discovered
Veerdharam, a labourer from Balotra, currently works in Sardarshahar, Churu. He has his TDS deducted from his salary and files his income tax returns every year. This year, when he visited his Chartered Accountant (CA) to file his returns, he learned that a large firm was operating under his name.
Fake Firm Registered in Delhi
The CA informed Veerdharam that a firm called “Virdha Traders” had been registered in his name, located near the Main Gate of Sabzi Mandi Main Market in New Delhi. Veerdharam was shocked to discover this, as he had no prior knowledge of the firm. The GST number issued for the fraudulent firm is 07CKIPR5140J1ZV.
Documents Misused
Upon further investigation, authorities found that the fake firm’s address was Ground Floor, House No. 810, North West Delhi. The fraudsters had utilized Veerdharam’s PAN and Aadhaar card to create the company, with the registration completed on 22 January 2025. Moreover, an Aadhaar authentication was marked as ‘successful’ on 10 July.
Financial Implications: Rs 18 Crore Transactions & Rs 3 Crore GST Fraud
The CA revealed to Veerdharam that the fraudulent firm had conducted business worth over Rs 18 crore, primarily dealing in copper scrap, rods, copper products, and polythene. The GST accumulated on these transactions exceeded Rs 3 crore. Alarmingly, an OTP sent to Veerdharam’s mobile on 10 July was also part of the scam, indicating that his mobile number was exploited without his knowledge.
Complaints Filed with Police and GST Officials
Veerdharam filed a written complaint on 24 July at the Gida police station in Balotra. Following this, the police contacted the GST department to fully comprehend the situation. Sources indicate that State GST officers have forwarded the complaint to officials in Delhi, aiming to cancel the fraudulent GST number.
Income Tax and Customs Notification
On 25 July, Veerdharam escalated the matter by lodging a complaint with the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), which was registered under the Delhi zone. He also informed Manish Kumar Jha, the Additional Commissioner at the office of the Principal Chief Commissioner of GST and Central Excise in Delhi.
Ongoing Police Investigation
The police have initiated an investigation into the identity theft. They are working to identify those who misused Veerdharam’s documents and mobile number, seeking to bring them to justice.
This case highlights the urgent necessity for individuals to monitor their personal information and be vigilant against the rising threat of identity theft.
