Fake GST Raid Turns Extortion Plot, Five Arrested In Noida Over Rs 29 Lakh

Five people have been arrested for allegedly posing as GST officials and extorting Rs 29 lakh from a GST consultant in Noida, police said on Wednesday. The Bisrakh police have also recovered the entire amount allegedly taken from the victim, including cash and gold and silver jewellery. Central Noida DCP Shailendra Kumar Singh said the recovered property included Rs 24.50 lakh in cash and jewellery valued at around Rs 4.50 lakh. The recovery was made during the investigation into the alleged extortion, which took place on July 20 when the victim was travelling in his car with his pet dog and laptop.

According to police, the accused allegedly intercepted the GST consultant's vehicle near S Aspire Society by blocking its path with their own car. They then allegedly entered his vehicle while posing as GST officials and took him along with them. The suspects reportedly told the victim that he was facing action over alleged fake e-way bills linked to two firms. The accused allegedly threatened the GST consultant with imprisonment and demanded Rs 29 lakh to resolve the purported GST-related matter. Police said the victim's brother subsequently brought the demanded amount in cash. After allegedly receiving the money, the suspects left the victim along with his car and fled from the area.

During the investigation, police allegedly established that the suspected main accused, identified as Kashish Chauhan alias Ishu, already knew the victim. According to the DCP, the two had been acquainted since 2021. Chauhan allegedly knew that the victim was involved in GST-related work, which police suspect was used to identify and target him. The case highlights how criminals can allegedly exploit familiarity with a person's profession to create convincing impersonation-based extortion schemes. By posing as government officials and invoking alleged violations involving GST and e-way bills, the accused reportedly created pressure on the victim and threatened him with legal consequences.

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Police said the entire allegedly extorted amount has been recovered. The recovery includes the cash and jewellery that the suspects were allegedly holding after the incident. Investigators are now examining the role of each of the five arrested individuals and their alleged involvement in planning and executing the operation. The use of fake official identities is a recurring concern in financial and cyber-enabled crime investigations, as victims may be more likely to comply when confronted by people claiming to represent government agencies. In this case, police allege that the suspects used the victim's knowledge of GST procedures and the threat of arrest to extract a substantial amount of money.

The investigation will also seek to establish whether the accused were involved in any similar incidents and whether other people assisted them. Police are expected to examine their communications, movements and financial dealings as part of the probe. The arrests followed the complaint and subsequent investigation into the July 20 incident. With the alleged extorted money recovered, investigators are now focusing on establishing the complete sequence of events and the specific roles played by the five accused in the alleged impersonation and extortion operation.

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