Mumbai: The Thane Cyber Police have registered a case against a resident of Andheri, Mumbai, and his unidentified associates for allegedly orchestrating a ₹75.48-crore GST fraud by misusing the online credentials of a laptop sales and service professional.
According to officials, the fraud took place between November 2024 and April 2025, during which the accused created multiple shell companies and filed fake invoices and GST returns to project fictitious transactions worth ₹75,48,42,087.
The manipulation of GST data not only caused significant loss to the government exchequer, but also tarnished the professional reputation of the victims whose credentials were misused.
The Modus Operandi
In his complaint filed on October 31, the 33-year-old professional stated that the accused gained his and his friend’s trust under the pretext of business collaboration.
The accused subsequently obtained their GST portal login IDs and passwords, which were then used to file fraudulent tax returns and invoices on behalf of several fake firms.
The accused allegedly uploaded forged documents through the victims’ credentials, fabricating large transaction volumes to claim unlawful tax credits under the GST system.
Legal Action Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
Based on the complaint, the Thane Cyber Police registered an FIR under the following provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 —
- Section 82(1): Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property
- Section 96(1)(a): Forgery or falsification of documents
- Section 99(1)(a): Using forged documents as genuine
- Section 61(1): Criminal conspiracy to commit an offence
Officials noted that these are serious, non-bailable offences, punishable by up to seven to ten years of imprisonment along with fines, depending on the scale and intent of the fraud.
Cyber Police Statement
A senior cyber police officer described the case as a “sophisticated blend of financial and cybercrime”, stating:
“The accused exploited confidential online credentials to create and submit fraudulent GST filings. We are tracing their digital footprint, bank trail, and the financial networks of the shell companies involved.”
Preliminary investigations have already revealed the use of multiple forged GST numbers, fake bank accounts, and fraudulent email IDs connected to the transactions.
Rising Trend of GST-Related Frauds
Experts warn that GST-related financial crimes have been increasing across India since the implementation of the tax regime.
Fraudsters often target small traders, consultants, or professionals, obtain their credentials, and use their identities to file false returns and claim ineligible Input Tax Credit (ITC).
A senior tax consultant explained:
“The GST portal is technologically robust, but data security lapses by users are the weak link. Sharing login credentials, even once, can expose you to large-scale identity theft and tax manipulation.”
Investigation in Progress
Thane Cyber Police are conducting a detailed forensic audit of bank accounts, GST filings, mobile data, and email records linked to the accused.
Officials suspect that the fraud may be part of a larger interstate network of fake GST operations involving multiple shell entities.
