GST credentials misused, hardware trader alleges ₹1.4 crore fraud

According to the police, an FIR has been registered based on a complaint filed by Ashpak Khan Taslim Khan Pathaan, a resident of Vasai, who runs a hardware store on R S Nimkar Marg in Kamathipura. He also owns a hardware shop in his native Buldhana district.

MUMBAI: A 31-year-old hardware shop owner was left shocked after Goods and Services Tax (GST) officials visited his store and informed him that he owed ₹1.4 crore in unpaid taxes on transactions worth ₹7 crore. The businessman later alleged that an agent to whom he had paid ₹300 to file his GST returns had misused his credentials to carry out fraudulent transactions.

GST credentials misused, hardware trader alleges ₹1.4 crore fraud

According to the police, an FIR has been registered based on a complaint filed by Ashpak Khan Taslim Khan Pathaan, a resident of Vasai, who runs a hardware store on R S Nimkar Marg in Kamathipura. He also owns a hardware shop in his native Buldhana district.

“The Buldhana shop was started in June 2025 and is registered with the GST department under the Amravati division. Its monthly GST returns were being filed through a chartered accountant,” a police officer said.

Pathaan allegedly knew a man named Kalam Abdul Jamil Shaikh, who had offered to file his monthly GST returns for ₹300. “In December 2025, the complainant shared his GST number, login ID and password with Shaikh over WhatsApp. He also shared OTPs required for filing returns,” the officer said.

The complainant was also told that the mobile number and email address linked to his GST account had been changed.

When Pathaan later visited GST Bhavan, officials reiterated the outstanding dues and asked him to clear the amount. He then realised he had allegedly been cheated by Shaikh and his associates and approached the police.

A case has been registered against Shaikh under sections 318(cheating), 336(forgery) and 340(using forged documents or electronic records as genuine) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.