'Opened multiple bank accounts': Rs 382 crore tax notice leads to Aadhaar, PAN misuse scam in Thane

THANE: A real estate agent from Diva was shocked on receiving an income tax notice, accusing him of conducting transactions amounting to Rs 382 crore. The unsuspecting agent, who resides in a chawl, soon learnt that he had become a victim of a massive financial scam involving fraudulent bank accounts and proprietary firms set up in his name for money laundering purposes, said a police officer.

The ordeal began in 2022, when the complainant was approached by an acquaintance. The prime accused offered him a job at a monthly salary of Rs 20,000. The prime accused, with two others, asked for his Aadhaar card, PAN card, photos, and a signed cheque. The trio allegedly used the documents to open multiple bank accounts and set up fake firms, including a proprietorship firm. These accounts were used for huge monetary deals to the tune of Rs 382 crore.

The scam came to light when the complainant received a notice from the Income Tax Department, asking him to explain the massive financial activity under his name. He approached the cyber crime police, who registered a case and began an investigation into the matter.

The police said the accused had used the complainant's documents to orchestrate the scam, facilitating illegal financial operations and money laundering through fake firms. "They opened multiple bank accounts used for large-scale money laundering," said an officer.

Police have warned the public about sharing personal documents as such scams are becoming common.