MUMBAI: A sacked driver goes on a revenge mode by turning on his former employer by feeding a group of impostors information about the businessman’s finances, helping them stage a four-hour Income Tax raid at his Andheri office, demanding ₹ 1 crore to settle alleged tax violations. But the plot was foiled when the businessman refused to pay without a formal notice from the I-T department.
However, he later consulted his Chartered Accountant, who checked with the Income Tax department and confirmed that no such raid had been authorised. Hunt is on for two more accused in the plot. The alleged raid then took a more threatening turn. The group searched the premises but allegedly failed to find any cash. After around four hours, the fake I-T officers left, allegedly abusing Kandasamy and taking his signature on a blank sheet of paper while telling him that the raid had been completed. The businessman was initially reluctant to approach the police. Investigators suspect that he used his knowledge of the businessman’s financial affairs to tip off the others about the possibility of cash being kept at the office. The police are searching for two more accused. “The gang is involved in this type of cheating and has posed as Income Tax officials, police officials and FDA officials to carry out raids.
The Andheri police have arrested the former driver, Santosh Khopatkar, 37, and six others for allegedly posing as I-T officials and raiding the businessman’s unit at Sahar Cargo Estate, Chakala, Andheri East, on July 17. “They told him he would have to pay ₹ 1 crore to avoid action against tax violations.
When he said he did not have the money and asked for a formal legal notice, they threatened to arrest him and told him he would have to pay a larger penalty,” said assistant police inspector Ramdas Kadam of Andheri police station. Khopatkar was allegedly unhappy with his former employer and had been sacked after refusing to follow his instructions, according to police. Police said the information helped the group plan the fake raid and target Kandasamy. “We have the imposters, identified as Vinay More, 37, Prem Sabnani, 50, Pradnya Main, 27, Reshma Warang, 41, and Sabina Shaikh, 48,” Kadam said. The group may have carried out similar operations in the past by posing as officials from different government departments, according to investigators. Sometimes, victims do not even approach the police,” Kadam said.
Kandasamy subsequently approached the Andheri police, who registered a case for personation, kidnapping, extortion, criminal conspiracy, house-trespass and criminal intimidation. The investigation eventually led police to Khopatkar, who had worked as Kandasamy’s driver before leaving the job around a year ago.
