What started as a simple life for a roadside cook has turned into a nightmare for Ravindra Singh Chauhan. Ravindra, from Bhind and currently working at a dhaba in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh for just ₹10,000 a month, found that transactions worth over ₹40 crore had happened in a bank account opened in his name. He only found out when the Income Tax Department sent a notice to his home.

Ravindra said that in 2017, while working at the Mehra toll plaza, he met a supervisor named Shashi Bhushan Rai. In 2019, Rai convinced him to go to Delhi, claiming it was just a casual visit. There, Rai opened a bank account in Ravindra’s name, saying his provident fund would be deposited there. Ravindra returned to Gwalior and later moved to Pune for work, forgetting about the account.

In April this year, the Income Tax Department sent a notice to Ravindra’s home in Bhind. His family could not understand it because it was in English. A second notice came in July, after which his family informed him. Shocked, Ravindra quit his Pune job and came home. A lawyer, Pradyumn Singh, told him that transactions worth ₹40.18 crore had been made through the account.

Ravindra rushed to the police, but no FIR was registered. Police told him to go to the Delhi branch where the account was opened. According to his lawyer, Rai had used Ravindra’s PAN and Aadhaar to open the account and even created a company called Shaurya International Traders in his name. Through this company, transactions worth over ₹40 crore happened until 2023. Though the transactions have now stopped, ₹12.5 lakh remains in the account.

“The scale of transactions suggests it may have been a case of laundering black money,” the lawyer said, adding that police have not taken action. With no help from authorities, Ravindra has now approached the Madhya PradeshHigh Court.

Ravindra Singh Chauhan: “I went to the police, but they refused to register an FIR. I complained everywhere, but no one helped. Now my only option is to fight this in court.” Pradyumn Singh, Lawyer: “The account was misused to float a company and launder crores. The Income Tax Department acted after checking the details. A poor cook like Ravindra has been dragged into this mess without knowing anything.”