After Delhi man flags use of his PAN, Aadhaar cards for fraud, two linked to GST racket arrested: Cops

Identified as Inderpal (45), a lawyer, and Sandeep (27), the accused were allegedly found to be systematically generating fake GST numbers using forged documents and later utilising these firms to issue fraudulent GST bills and facilitating fraudulent tax settlements, said police.

During the investigation into Sumit’s complaint, the police obtained detailed information from the Goods and Services Tax Department, which confirmed that two firms were indeed registered using his PAN details. Physical verification at the registered addresses revealed that the firms were fake, prompting the officers to ramp up surveillance and technical tracking.

Further probe into the case led to the identification of Sandeep, who was eventually apprehended from his hometown in Chulkana in Haryana’s Panipat. Upon questioning, he allegedly revealed that he was employed by Inderpal, an advocate from Northeast Delhi’s Burari, and that he had been working with him for the past seven years.

According to his statement, the duo procured GST registrations using genuine identity documents, such as PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, SIM cards, and rent agreements, belonging to their unsuspecting victims. Once the firms were acquired, they would log into the GST portal, update the contact details, including mobile numbers and email addresses, and then use these accounts to issue counterfeit GST bills.

“Thereafter, based on the technical analysis, Inderpal was traced in Kairana in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh. He had absconded to Kairana after Sandeep’s arrest. Inderpal was arrested in the case, and he was taken into police custody. During his sustained questioning, he disclosed that he used to procure GST firms from other associates located in Delhi for Rs 25,000-30,000 per firm. They also provided the login details and a SIM card. He also disclosed that the SIM cards were also provided by other members of the syndicate,” said DCP South West Amit Goel.

The police recovered three smartphones, one laptop, and a pen drive from the possession of the accused, all of which were allegedly used in the execution of the fraud. These devices are now being forensically examined to trace the full extent of the operation and identify other members of the syndicate, said police.

According to the police, Sandeep was allegedly responsible for operating the technical aspects of the fraudulent scheme, including the creation and uploading of fake bills. Inderpal, allegedly leveraging his professional status as a lawyer, handled procurement and coordination with outside associates. Their collaboration allegedly enabled them to run a seamless operation that posed a significant risk to the integrity of the GST system, said officers.