A small grocery shop owner from Khurja in Uttar Pradesh was left stunned after receiving an Income Tax Department notice over sales worth more than ₹141 crore. The shopkeeper, Sudhir, claims his PAN card was fraudulently used to register six shell companies in Delhi.
Sudhir, who runs a modest grocery store from his home in Khurja’s Nayaganj locality, said this was not the first time he faced such harassment. In 2022, he had already received a similar notice and explained to the tax authorities that he had no links to any companies. However, on July 10 this year, he was shocked to receive yet another notice alleging massive business transactions in his name.
“I only run a small shop. I have no connection with these companies. My PAN card has been misused,” Sudhir said.
Khurja Police Station in-charge Pankaj Rai confirmed that a case has been registered and investigations are underway to trace how Sudhir’s PAN was misused.
Officials explained that PAN card fraud is increasingly common in India. Criminals use stolen or forged PAN details to open bank accounts, set up shell firms, take loans, or evade taxes. Victims often come to know about the fraud only after they receive tax notices or recovery calls from authorities.
Experts advise individuals to regularly monitor their credit reports, check for unusual financial activity, and ensure their PAN is securely linked with Aadhaar to reduce the risk of such fraud.
