Mumbai: Taking serious note of a foreign national obtaining a PAN card by claiming to be an Indian citizen, the Bombay High Court has summoned three senior Central government officials to appear before it to show what action had been taken in the matter. The petitioner Sanjay Punmiya had filed a case in the High Court alleging that Faisal Essa Yosuf, a foreign national obtained a PAN card in his name and bank accounts were opened by him.
The bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka, in a written order, directed a representative of Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Mumbai, a senior officer nominated by Joint Secretary (CPV), Ministry of External Affairs, and a senior officer nominated by Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai, to remain present in court on January 8 with the relevant documents to show action taken, pursuant to the order passed by the High Court on earlier occasions.
The High Court, had earlier asked respondents to hold an inquiry on the matter but no steps were adopted, the bench noted and warned to issue contempt notices against the concerned officers if stern measures were not enforced.