Hyderabad, October 12, 2026: Hyderabad’s Central Crime Station (CCS) has registered a case after a 31-year-old businesswoman alleged that her Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN) was used to record transactions worth approximately ₹38 crore without her knowledge or approval.
According to the complaint, the woman discovered the alleged discrepancy after GST officials visited her residence to enquire about business transactions linked to her registration. She reportedly told authorities that she had neither carried out the transactions nor authorised the invoices or commercial activities associated with them.
The case has been registered against unidentified persons. The allegations are yet to be established through the investigation.
How the Businesswoman’s GST Registration Was Initially Used
The complainant reportedly obtained GST registration in May 2025 with the intention of starting a business. Financial difficulties initially prevented her from commencing regular operations.
She subsequently hired a tax consultant, identified in the complaint as Mohit Shukla, to manage her GST compliance. According to the report, the consultant filed nil returns on her behalf during the initial period.
The woman later received financial assistance through a personal loan of approximately ₹3 lakh taken by her husband. This reportedly enabled her to launch a coconut sugar business and sell products through Amazon.
The complaint states that the first consultant eventually stopped filing returns after a dispute over unpaid consultancy fees.
Second Consultant Allegedly Handled GST Returns
The woman then reportedly contacted another consultant, identified as Priyanshi Sharma, whom she found through an online search.
According to the complaint, the second consultant filed GST returns between November 2025 and June 2026, charging ₹149 per filing. The businesswoman said she shared one-time passwords (OTPs) through WhatsApp because she believed they were required to complete the filing process.
She alleged that the consultant stopped responding to calls and messages in July 2026.
The available report does not establish whether either consultant was responsible for the alleged high-value transactions or unauthorised changes to the GST account. Those questions will need to be examined by investigators.
GST Officials Flag Transactions Worth ₹38 Crore
The alleged misuse came to the woman’s attention when GST officials visited her home to enquire about transactions recorded against her GSTIN.
Officials reportedly informed her that transactions amounting to around ₹38 crore had been linked to the registration. The complainant denied conducting or authorising business worth that amount and said she had not issued invoices for the transactions in question.
She also alleged that the email address and mobile number registered with her GST account had been changed without her consent. If established, such changes could be significant to determining how control over the registration was allegedly obtained.
The reported transaction value should not automatically be interpreted as a confirmed tax loss or as money received by the complainant. The nature of the transactions, the invoices involved and any resulting tax liability would require verification.
Police Register Case Under BNS Provisions
Following the complaint, CCS police registered a case against unidentified persons under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 338 and 340(2), read with Section 61(2), of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), according to the report.
The allegations include the unauthorised alteration of registered contact details and the alleged use of the woman’s GSTIN for transactions she says she did not undertake.
The investigation will need to establish how the account details were changed, who had access to the relevant credentials and OTPs, and who conducted or benefited from the transactions. The filing of a police case does not, by itself, establish the guilt of any person named in the complaint.
What Businesses Can Learn From the Alleged GSTIN Misuse
The case highlights the importance of maintaining control over tax registrations and checking account activity even when filing work is outsourced to a consultant.
Businesses can reduce compliance risks by following several precautions:
Protect account access: Avoid sharing OTPs, passwords or other verification credentials casually over messaging platforms. Use authorised processes and remain present during sensitive account changes.
Verify registered details: Periodically check the email address, mobile number and other information linked to the GST registration.
Review filed returns: Keep copies of filed returns, invoices and acknowledgements, and compare reported transactions with actual business activity.
Choose service providers carefully: Verify a consultant’s identity, responsibilities and authorisation before allowing them to manage tax-related work.
Respond promptly to discrepancies: If unfamiliar transactions or changes appear, preserve relevant messages and records and contact the appropriate GST authorities and law enforcement agencies.
Proper bookkeeping services in India can also help businesses maintain organised transaction records and identify discrepancies between their actual sales and reported figures. However, bookkeeping alone cannot prevent unauthorised access to a tax account.
Investigation Will Determine Responsibility
The reported ₹38 crore discrepancy has raised questions about the security of the complainant’s GST registration and the handling of her account credentials. The central issues are whether the registered contact details were changed without authorisation, how the transactions were recorded and who was responsible.
Until investigators establish the facts, the allegations against unidentified persons—and any implications for individuals mentioned in the complaint—should be treated as unproven.