1 hr ago
Fake Income Tax Raid on Mumbai Businessman Exposed by DVR
A group of people pretended to be tax officers and searched a Mumbai businessman’s office.
They threatened him and demanded Rs 1 crore.
The businessman said he had done nothing wrong and refused to pay.
He checked with the real tax department and learned that no raid had been ordered.
Police say his former driver helped plan the fake raid.
The group turned off the office cameras but forgot that a recording machine was still running.
The recording helped police identify people who were allegedly involved.
Ten people have been arrested, while one official sought by police remains at large.
Investigators are checking whether the group targeted other businesses too.
A group posing as Income Tax officials raided Rajkumar Kandaswami’s Mumbai office on July 17 and demanded Rs 1 crore.
Kandaswami refused to pay, insisted on a formal notice and later confirmed that no official raid had been authorised.
Police allege his former driver, Santosh Kapatkar, planned the operation with others after being dismissed.
Investigators say the group forgot to switch off the digital video recorder, and its footage helped identify suspects.
Ten people were arrested between September 4 and 15; Income Tax official Jyotish Sinha remains wanted, and the investigation continues.
- Who
- Mumbai businessman Rajkumar Kandaswami was targeted; police allege his former driver Santosh Kapatkar helped organise the fake raid.
- What
- A group posing as Income Tax officials searched Kandaswami’s office and demanded Rs 1 crore.
- Where
- Kandaswami’s office in the Sahar area of Mumbai.
- When
- The alleged raid took place on July 17; the FIR was registered on September 4, and arrests followed between September 4 and 15.
- Why
- Police allege Kapatkar planned the raid to take revenge after Kandaswami asked him to leave his job.
Police Allegations
Accused Status and Investigation
Alleged conspiracy
Police Allegations
Police allege Kapatkar recruited others, including people connected with the Income Tax Department, to stage a raid and extort Kandaswami.
Accused Status and Investigation
The article reports allegations and arrests, not a court finding of guilt; police say they are independently verifying the suspected departmental links.
Possible wider targeting
Police Allegations
Police are examining whether the group used a similar method against other businessmen.
Accused Status and Investigation
The article does not report confirmation that other businesses were targeted in this alleged operation.
Key facts
- Businessman
- Rajkumar Kandaswami, owner of Two-M-Opthotronics Private Limited.
- Alleged demand
- Rs 1 crore.
- Date of alleged raid
- July 17.
- FIR
- Registered on September 4 for alleged impersonation, abduction and extortion.
- Arrests
- Ten accused were arrested between September 4 and September 15.
- Wanted suspect
- Income Tax official Jyotish Sinha remains wanted, according to police.
- Key evidence
- Office DVR footage recorded the alleged operation after the group switched off the CCTV cameras.
- Case status
- The ten arrested accused are in judicial custody; police are examining communications and financial transactions.
Quotes
Deputy Commissioner of Police Datta Nalawade
Police officer commenting on Kandaswami’s response to the alleged fake raid
“He was very sure that he did not commit any wrongdoing. He had all his papers in place. That gave him the confidence to fend the impersonators off and approach the police.”
indianexpress.com
“All my books are clean. I don’t owe any department anything.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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