Fake Aadhaar, PAN Used to Float 100+ Bogus Firms in Rs. 1000 Crore GST Fraud, 5 Arrested In Meerut
Five arrested in Meerut; accused used forged documents to claim fraudulent GST input tax credit
The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh has arrested five individuals who allegedly orchestrated a ₹1000 crore GST fraud by creating over 100 fake companies using forged Aadhaar and PAN cards. The bogus firms were used to generate fake GST invoices and claim fraudulent input tax credit (ITC), causing massive losses to the government exchequer.
The accused—Ratan Ram, Omprakash, Hanuman Ram, Budharam, and Bheraram—are residents of Goliya village in Barmer district of Rajasthan. They were arrested in a joint operation by the Meerut STF and Muzaffarnagar police.
According to investigators, the accused used forged identity documents to register fake companies on the GSTN portal. These shell firms were then used to issue invoices without any actual supply of goods or services. The fake transactions enabled their clients to wrongfully claim ITC, effectively laundering money and evading taxes.
Accused Sent to Judicial Custody
After being presented in court, all five accused were sent to judicial custody. During the investigation, digital devices, fake IDs, and company records were seized. Officials said these materials are crucial evidence in unearthing the broader network behind the scam.Arrests Made in Muzaffarnagar and Delhi
The STF traced the accused to different locations, including Delhi's Nangloi and rural parts of Muzaffarnagar. The operation was based on technical surveillance and specific intelligence inputs. Authorities believe the arrested individuals are part of a larger syndicate that has been operating across state borders.Wider Probe Underway
The case has now been handed over to the STF for deeper investigation. Officials are probing possible links with other traders, financial intermediaries, and GST consultants. Recovery and penalty proceedings are expected to follow soon.
Mariya is the Senior Editor at JurisHour. She has 5+ years of experience on covering tax litigation stories from the Supreme Court, High Courts and various tribunals including CESTAT, ITAT, NCLAT, NCLT, etc. Mariya graduated from MLSU Law College, Udaipur (Raj.) with B.A.LL.B. and also holds an LL.M. She started as a freelance tax reporter in the leading online legal news companies like LiveLaw & Taxscan.
