Ahmedabad Couple Jailed for TDS Fraud

In a significant verdict, the Special Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) court for CBI cases in Ahmedabad (Rural) has sentenced Suresh G. Prajapati, a former income tax practitioner, and his wife, Sobhnaben Suresh Prajapati, to three years of imprisonment for fraudulently obtaining Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) refunds using forged certificates. Each has also been fined ₹60,000.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) initiated the case on December 31, 2007, following allegations that bogus TDS certificates were used to secure income tax refunds from Ward 12(3) of the Income Tax Office in Narayan Chambers, Ahmedabad. Investigations revealed that Suresh G. Prajapati had filed multiple income tax returns on behalf of various individuals, attaching counterfeit TDS certificates. This fraudulent activity led to refunds totaling approximately Rs 3,61,298, which were subsequently misappropriated.

The CBI filed two chargesheets against the Prajapatis on December 31, 2008, and January 3, 2011. After a thorough trial, the court found both accused guilty and imposed the respective sentences.

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This case underscores the judiciary’s commitment to addressing financial fraud and serves as a cautionary tale for those attempting to exploit tax systems through deceitful means.