Pilibhit (UP), Apr 17 (PTI) An alleged fraud involving misuse of a GST ID to misappropriate funds worth around Rs 7 crore has been uncovered here, with police detecting 13 fake firms which were allegedly used to generate bogus bills, officials said on Friday.

According to police, the accused allegedly duped a local businessman on the pretext of arranging a bank loan and obtained his GST credentials before carrying out the fraudulent transactions.

The complainant, Mohammad Naeem, a resident of Mohalla Chhota Khudaganj and proprietor of Shahji Enterprises, runs a handpump installation and labour services business.

In his complaint, Naeem alleged one Ajmal alias Sameer Rana approached him posing as a loan agent and convinced him to share his GST ID, password and Aadhaar details on January 12, 2026, as part of the loan procedure.

The fraud came to light on March 13 when officials from the GST department contacted Naeem, informing him that purchases worth nearly Rs 7 crore had been shown under his GST ID without filing returns.

Subsequently, when Naeem confronted the accused, he was allegedly abused and threatened with dire consequences.

Kotwali in-charge Satyendra Kumar said a case has been registered under relevant sections based on the victim's complaint and a detailed investigation is underway.

Police has found that fake invoices had been generated in the names of around 13 fictitious firms.

"Records of 13 firms are being scrutinised to expose the entire syndicate. Action will be taken against the accused on the basis of evidence," he said. PTI COR KIS ARB ARB

GST credential misuse and fake invoicing alleged in a fraudulent scheme involving fictitious firms and bogus billing transactions. Misuse of GST credentials was alleged in a fraudulent loan-arrangement scheme in which a local businessman was induced to share his GST ID, password and Aadhaar details on the pretext of obtaining a bank loan. Purchases of nearly Rs 7 crore were later shown under his GST registration without corresponding return filings. Police stated that fake invoices had been generated in the names of about 13 fictitious firms, and investigation was continuing to trace the wider syndicate.