Bengaluru GST Office Housekeeping Staff Impersonate Officers, Extort Rs 5 Lakh from Trader
In a shocking case of insider deception, two outsourced housekeeping staff members at the Principal Commissioner of Central Tax and GST Commissionerate office in Bengaluru West allegedly impersonated GST officers, conducted a meticulously staged fake raid, and extorted a substantial sum of Rs 5 lakh from an unsuspecting tobacco trader. The elaborate scam unraveled when vigilance officials became suspicious of the duo's sudden and conspicuous lifestyle improvements, leading to a thorough investigation that exposed their fraudulent activities.
Inside Knowledge Facilitates Convincing Impersonation
The accused individuals, identified as Nagaraj P, aged 37, and Dadafir Ballari, aged 35, were employed as housekeeping staff through an outsourcing firm at the GST office located within the BMTC bus stand building in Banashankari. Leveraging their daily proximity to genuine GST officials, the duo had acquired intimate knowledge of official dress codes, standard operating procedures during raids, and typical behavioral patterns of officers. This insider information enabled them to execute a highly convincing impersonation that successfully deceived their victim.
An investigating officer explained the advantage their position provided: "They knew precisely how officers dressed, spoke, and conducted raids. That familiarity helped them gain the trader's trust while simultaneously intimidating him into compliance." The officer emphasized that their daily exposure to authentic procedures made their impersonation particularly effective and difficult for outsiders to question.
Vigilance Inspection Uncovers Incriminating Evidence
Suspicions regarding the duo's behavior prompted vigilance officials to conduct a surprise inspection on Tuesday. During a search of their room within the office premises, investigators discovered substantial cash bundles totaling Rs 2.5 lakh—Rs 1 lakh with Dadafir and Rs 1.5 lakh with Nagaraj. More significantly, officials recovered multiple forged documents that revealed the extent of their criminal enterprise.
Among the seized items were three counterfeit identity cards featuring Nagaraj's photograph but displaying different fraudulent designations: one identifying him as a CLTS staff member, another as an intelligence officer named Gaurav Kumar, and a third even listing him as a sepoy. All three bogus IDs falsely indicated issuance by the Ministry of Finance's GST office. Additionally, investigators confiscated six fabricated search warrant orders that purported to be officially issued by government authorities.
Elaborate Fake Raid Targeting Tobacco Trader
Investigators subsequently uncovered the duo's alleged modus operandi. Posing as legitimate GST intelligence officials, Nagaraj and Dadafir reportedly conducted a carefully orchestrated fake raid on a tobacco trader's office in Peenya on January 1. During this sham operation, they threatened to seize the trader's goods and file serious cases against him, using their knowledge of official procedures to create credible intimidation. Through these coercive tactics, they successfully extorted Rs 5 lakh from the frightened businessman.
The Rs 2.5 lakh recovered during the vigilance inspection is believed to represent a portion of the total amount extorted from the trader. The discrepancy between the recovered cash and the full extortion amount suggests the duo may have already spent or concealed the remainder, though investigators continue to trace the money trail.
Judicial Custody and Expanded Investigation
Both accused individuals have been remanded to judicial custody following their arrest. Investigators now plan to seek police custody to conduct a more thorough interrogation and expand the scope of their investigation. Key areas of focus include determining whether other traders might have been similarly victimized, uncovering how the sophisticated fake IDs and search warrants were created, and examining the potential role or negligence of the outsourcing firm that employed the duo at the GST office.
A formal case has been registered at the Banashankari police station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The investigation continues as authorities work to identify all accomplices, recover remaining illicit funds, and ensure such insider exploitation cannot recur within government offices.
This case highlights significant security vulnerabilities when outsourced staff gain intimate knowledge of sensitive government operations without adequate oversight. It raises important questions about vetting procedures for contract employees and monitoring mechanisms to prevent similar impersonation scams in the future.
