Fake Officials conduct GST Raid; Dupes Rs.20000

A fake raid at a shop in Market Yard was carried out by five people posing as officers of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) department and one journalist, defrauding the dealer of approximately Rs.20,000.

A betel nut seller named Mahesh Totamal Daryani (52), submitted a report about the February 8 incident at the Market Yard Police Station on Thursday.

The complaint states that on February 8, at about 1:30 pm, the accused—dressed as GST officials—arrived at the trader’s office, Om Trading Company Bhusar Market, and claimed to be conducting an inspection for tax compliance.

The trader collaborated with the imposters because he thought they were actual tax authority representatives. But as the examination went on, the imposters started to demand absurd penalties and fines for alleged violations.

The trader sensed something was wrong, so he asked the visitors for identity cards and authority documents so they could carry out the raid. His demand left the accused flee the spot.

Daryani said that one of the team members was drunk.

The accused fled before the complainant and other businessman and office-bearers of the traders’ association arrived. One of the six defendants was posing as a journalist.

“They dressed like officials, and I cooperated with them,” Daryani said. But when they insisted on settling the dues, I grew suspicious. Considering that my records are current, why should I pay them?

The police said that during the operation, a fake officer took Rs. 20,000 that was stashed in a drawer in Daryani’s cabin and told him that they were seizing it. The incident was captured on camera by the shop’s CCTV system.

Following the incident, the complainant went to the GST office to inform them of what had happened, and they advised him to file a police report.

Senior inspector Swapnali Shinde of the Market Yard Police Station stated, “We will crack the case soon.”

Shinde claims that following the event, the traders’ organization made the decision to file a police complaint, and on Thursday, they went to the police.

At Market Yard Police Station, a case under Sections 170, 419, and 420 of the IPC has been filed against the six unidentified people.