Ashish Dixit, a startup founder on Friday took to social media to air his grievances after being nearly duped of Rs 25,000 by a con artist fraudulently posing as a Goods and Service Tax officer.
Dixit, the founder of Medhini Products, a manufacturer and exporter of "non-woven packaging items, MonoCarton and rigid boxes," as displayed on his 'X' handle, was initially unaware of the fraud's identity.
His initial post was a lamentation on the menace of alleged bureaucratic corruption, detailing how an alleged GST officer had seized his vehicle because he sold his monocarton box at a price below market price.
The so-called officer identified himself as 'S K Tripathi' and demanded Rs 25,000 in bribes. Dixit did not give in and instead took to 'X' and made a post detailing his ordeal, tagging the GST Council in it.
He argued that it was impossible to calculate the market price of a customised item.
you know what is tax terrorism. i got a call from GST officer in etawah that your vehicle is siezed. i asked the reason so he said because you sold this monocarton box at rs 8.4 while market price should be rs 10.
August 22, 2025
it is a total harassment. too much for ease of business in india.…He further tagged the 'X' accounts of Uttar Pradesh Police's Anti Corruption Organisation and the UP Vigilance Establishment departments in a reply to his post in hopes that they would look into the matter.
AdvertisementWhile awaiting a response from the authorities, Dixit reported that he endured repeated badgering and irrelevant questions from the alleged fraudster and his co-conspirators.
He said that they asked him questions regarding why he had not opted for e-invoicing or the reason why he mentioned the bill to ship to, possibly to create fear and uncertainty to extract a bribe.
Dixit said he stood his ground, and the fraudsters kept reducing the bribe amount until it was Rs 2,000, but he refused to pay the amount.
he came down to 2000rs. i didnt pay anything to him.
August 22, 2025Dixit then reported that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs got in touch with him and informed him that after their investigation, there was no 'S K Tripathi' in government employed and he was misled. He was also informed that prompt action was being taken against the suspect.
Advertisement"My sincere thanks to CBIC for their prompt and necessary action. UP govt is taking action against the person who tried to commit fraud," he wrote.
On verification by CBIC (@cbic_india), it was found that the person was neither from CGST nor UP State GST – I was misled by a miscreant. I urge everyone to stay alert. My sincere thanks to CBIC for their prompt and necessary action.
August 22, 2025
UP govt is taking action against the person… https://t.co/mIe4EvV1GWEssential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.