Economic Fraud
Rs 400-a-Day Worker’s Identity Misused in Massive Fraud, Hit with Shocking Rs 232 Crore Tax Notice
Phool Mian, a daily wage embroidery worker from Bareilly, has received a Rs 232 crore tax notice after scammers misused his identity to set up a fake export firm in Delhi. This fraud highlights the risks of identity theft and document misuse in India.
An embroidery worker from Bareilly, earning just Rs 400 a day, has been served an astonishing Rs 232 crore tax notice by the Delhi income tax department. The worker, identified as Phool Mian, found himself entangled in a complex web of tax fraud after scammers allegedly used his documents to establish a fake export firm, “Hi Cloud Impex,” and conduct high-value transactions under his name.
Phool Mian, 35, a resident of the Quila area in Bareilly, was reportedly deceived by individuals promising him a job opportunity in Dubai. According to Mian, he was approached in 2018 by a man named Guddu Sundar, also known as Uwais, who offered job assistance abroad. Guddu, who had a record of frequent travels to Dubai, convinced Mian to provide his Aadhaar and PAN cards as part of the employment process.
The scam deepened when Guddu introduced Mian to two other men, Nanhe alias Suhail and Asif Khan. They further assured him that a job would soon be arranged. However, as COVID-19 lockdowns stalled opportunities, Mian was left without work and unaware of the financial web being spun in his name.
Discovery of Fraud
Mian’s ordeal came to light when he received his first tax notice in early 2024. The notice, detailing unpaid taxes on transactions amounting to crores, shocked him, as he had never engaged in any business dealings of such magnitude. Investigations revealed that his documents had been used to set up a sole proprietorship export firm in Delhi, enabling the scammers to conduct high-value transactions and evade taxes.
Mian confronted Guddu and Nanhe, who reportedly admitted to using his documents to open the firm and register it for GST. Initially, they promised to resolve the issue but later resorted to threats when Mian sought answers. As the investigation unfolded, Mian faced further harassment, including a second tax notice from the authorities.
Police Investigation
Sandeep Singh, a circle officer in Bareilly, confirmed that an FIR has been lodged against the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 419 (cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for cheating), and 471 (using a forged document as genuine). Additionally, the police are investigating the financial transactions and gathering evidence to trace the bank accounts involved in the scam.
Authorities believe that the suspects are currently evading arrest, but efforts are underway to apprehend them. Singh emphasized that this case highlights the risks of identity theft and the need for individuals to safeguard their personal documents.
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