Pune: Exusia India CEO, COO Booked for Alleged Rs 18 Lakh Provident Fund and TDS Fraud
Pune, 30th January 2025: An employee of the Exusia India Private Limited has approached the Pune Police, alleging that he was duped of over ₹18 lakh in a Provident Fund (PF) and Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) fraud. Following an order from the Pune District Court, a case has been registered at Yerawada Police Station.
Rajnish Kumar Sharma (42), a resident of New Delhi, filed the complaint after discovering the alleged fraud upon submitting his resignation in 2023. The case has been registered against Harprit Mehta, COO, and Trevor Silver, CEO of Exusia India Private Limited, both residents of Kalyani Nagar, Pune, on charges of cheating and criminal breach of trust.
According to the police FIR, Sharma joined Exusia India Private Limited as a consultant in November 2015 and later became a permanent employee. He resigned in November 2022 via email, citing inadequate increments and lack of financial growth. After resigning, Sharma discovered that his PF deductions from July 2022 to October 2022 had not been deposited into his account.
Upon inquiring with senior management, including the accused COO Mehta and CEO Silver, he was assured that they would look into the matter. However, in November 2022, he found out that the company had not paid ₹3.68 lakh in TDS to the Income Tax Department on his behalf. After raising this issue via email, Sharma alleges in the FIR that he was terminated without reason on 17th November 2022.
The complainant claims that he paid a partial TDS amount but has not received a refund for his PF and TDS contributions. In total, Sharma alleges a fraud of ₹18.73 lakh, including unpaid PF and TDS amounts. After approaching the Pune District Court, which directed the police to register a case, an FIR was filed at Yerawada Police Station. The court also denied a petition filed by Exusia India Private Limited against the case.
Assistant Police Inspector Mahesh Lamkhade from Yerawada Police Station is currently investigating the matter.
