Bengaluru Driver Faces Massive GST Demand in Identity Theft Case
A young driver from Bengaluru found himself in a financial nightmare when GST officials slapped him with a tax demand exceeding eight lakh rupees. The demand came for transactions he insists he never made.
Summons Arrive at Village Address
Bharath BH, a 26-year-old resident of Krishnappa Garden in south Bengaluru, works as a driver for a regional news channel. His ordeal began when Mysuru GST officials sent a summons to his permanent address in Channarayapatna village, Hassan district. The notice arrived on December 8, 2025.
The document stated that substantial financial transactions had occurred through a bank account opened in Bharath's name. Officials claimed these transactions involved UPI payments and linked to a firm registered under his identity.
Shocking Discovery of Unauthorized Account
Bharath approached GST authorities seeking clarification about the unexpected notice. That's when he learned the shocking details. Someone had opened a current account at a bank using his Aadhaar and PAN cards on April 5, 2024.
This unauthorized account recorded transactions totaling nearly thirty lakh rupees. Out of this amount, approximately eight point two lakh rupees was identified as taxable income, triggering the substantial GST demand.
Driver Denies Any Involvement
Bharath maintains complete innocence in the matter. He states categorically that he:
- Had no knowledge of the bank account's existence
- Never conducted any business transactions through it
- Did not authorize anyone to open or operate an account on his behalf
- Has no connection to any firm registered under his name
"Unknown persons, possibly in collusion with bank officials, misused my identity documents," Bharath alleged. He believes they opened the account fraudulently and conducted financial transactions, leaving him facing unexpected legal and tax liabilities.
Police Register Case After Complaint
Frustrated by the situation, Bharath filed a formal complaint with police. He expressed concern that neither GST officials nor the bank had informed him about who opened the account or registered the firm.
Based on his complaint, police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include:
- Cheating under section 318(4)
- Cheating by personation under section 319(2)
This case highlights growing concerns about identity theft and financial fraud in urban centers. Victims often discover such crimes only when they face legal notices or tax demands for activities they never conducted.
The investigation continues as authorities work to identify who misused Bharath's documents and conducted transactions worth nearly thirty lakh rupees without his knowledge or consent.
