In a shocking case of suspected financial fraud, a barber from Sirsa has received a staggering ₹37.87 crore income tax notice, despite earning only Rs. 350 to 450 per day. The case has raised serious concerns over the misuse of PAN card details, with suspicion pointing towards a loan app company as the possible source of the breach.
Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Ali Mohammad village in Sirsa, has been operating a small barber shop near the Dera Sacha Sauda sect for the past ten years. His family includes his homemaker wife, mother, and father, who works as a tailor. The family resides in a modest two-room house constructed on common village land (shamlat).
Shocking Income Tax Notice: “I Couldn’t Believe It”
Rakesh’s ordeal began on March 29 when a postman delivered a notice to his shop. “I couldn’t understand the English notice, so I asked a man at a nearby shop to read it. I was shocked when he told me the income tax department had issued a notice for ₹37.87 crore,” Rakesh told reporters.
Panic-stricken, he visited the Sirsa Deputy Commissioner’s office for help. Officials there suggested the notice could be the result of PAN card misuse and advised him to file a police complaint.
Loan App May Hold the Key to the Fraud
Rakesh suspects the trouble began after he took a ₹10,000 loan from the Dhani app in 2020. “I repaid the loan with ₹2,000 interest and received a no-dues certificate. I now believe someone from the company may have misused my PAN card and documents,” he said.
Following this suspicion, Rakesh filed a written complaint against unknown persons at the Nathusari Chopta police station.
Police and Community Respond
Station House Officer Sukhdev Singh confirmed that the police are investigating the matter and will take legal action if fraud is confirmed.
Former village sarpanch Manju Devi said the family is under immense stress. “Police must find out whether someone used his PAN and Aadhaar cards for financial fraud,” she said.
A Wake-Up Call on PAN Card Misuse
This incident is a grim reminder of the growing trend of identity theft in India. Misuse of PAN and Aadhaar cards is often linked to fraudulent loans, shell companies, and digital scams. Legal experts advise citizens to regularly monitor credit reports, tax filings, and financial activity tied to their PAN and Aadhaar to prevent such incidents.
