Ajmer: A 62-year-old tailor from Rajasthan’s Ajmer district has been served an alleged tax demand of nearly ₹975 crore by the Surat Income Tax Department, despite earning around ₹15,000 a month from tailoring. The case took a startling turn when records reportedly showed that the man, Rekhraj Thada, had been listed as a director of two diamond companies in Surat. His family claims he has never visited Gujarat and has no connection with the diamond trade.
According to the family, the notice received on August 13, 2026, mentioned a total tax liability of ₹9,74,97,25,457. The unusually high demand prompted the family to seek professional assistance and examine government records through a local chartered accountant.
The verification reportedly showed that Thada’s name appeared as a director of Roop Rajat Diamond Private Limited and another Surat-based company, Jai Baberi Diamond Private Limited. The family suspects that his Aadhaar and PAN details were allegedly misused to create shell or bogus companies and conduct financial transactions without his knowledge.
₹975 Crore Demand Leaves Family Shocked
Thada is a resident of Govindgarh in Ajmer and has reportedly earned his livelihood through tailoring. His family said they were stunned when the Income Tax Department notice arrived, given that his financial circumstances bear no apparent resemblance to the massive tax liability mentioned in the document.
The family subsequently began examining corporate and financial records to understand how Thada’s identity became linked to companies operating in Surat.
The alleged discrepancy has raised questions about how identity documents were obtained, how the companies were incorporated and who actually controlled their financial operations.
Named as Director Despite Allegedly Never Visiting Gujarat
The family maintains that Thada has never travelled to Gujarat and has never been associated with the diamond business. Despite this, his name reportedly appears in official corporate records as a director of two companies based in Surat.
The alleged use of his identity could have potentially exposed him to tax liabilities and other legal complications arising from transactions carried out in the names of the companies.
Investigators will now need to establish whether his identity documents were forged, misused or submitted through fraudulent means during the company-registration process.
Mechanical Workshop Found at Registered Address
The case became even more unusual when the registered address of the companies was reportedly checked. Instead of finding a diamond business operating from the location, a mechanical workshop was found there.
The premises are associated with the family of Deepakbhai Hasmukhbhai Kletwala, who reportedly said that a mechanical workshop had been operating at the location since 1997. He also claimed that the family became aware of the alleged fraud only recently.
The discovery could become an important part of the investigation, particularly in determining whether the registered company addresses were genuine business premises or had been used only for documentation purposes.
Family Files Police Complaint
After learning that Thada’s identity had allegedly been linked to the companies, his family filed a complaint with the police. The investigation is expected to examine company incorporation documents, director appointment records, KYC details, bank accounts, income-tax filings and financial transactions associated with the firms.
Authorities will also need to determine who actually operated the companies and benefited from the transactions attributed to them.
Cybercrime Expert Warns About Identity Misuse
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said identity-document misuse can extend beyond conventional banking fraud and can potentially be used to create companies, open financial accounts and establish false business profiles.
He said people should avoid sharing PAN, Aadhaar and other KYC documents with unknown individuals or unverified agencies. If a person discovers a company, bank account or financial activity linked to their identity without their knowledge, they should immediately approach the concerned authorities and preserve all relevant records and communications.
Investigation to Establish the Actual Beneficiaries
The ₹975-crore tax notice has now become part of a larger alleged identity-fraud investigation. The crucial questions are who obtained Thada’s identity documents, how they were used to register the companies, who controlled the businesses and where the money linked to the companies ultimately went.
For now, the family maintains that the tailor has no connection with the diamond trade and had no knowledge of the companies allegedly registered in his name. The police and concerned financial authorities will have to establish the facts and determine whether the tax liability arose from genuine transactions or from an alleged fraudulent use of his identity.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
