ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against prominent fashion designer Nomi Ansari, accusing him of committing sales tax fraud amounting to over Rs1.20 billion.
Filed on April 18 in Karachi, the FIR states that Ansari, the owner of his self-named fashion label, has been booked under Section 2(37) of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, which deals with tax fraud.
Ansari has yet to issue any public statement in response to the FIR.
The report further cites multiple violations, including Sections 3, 6, 7, 8, 8A, 11E, 22, 23, 26, and 73 of the Act, involving improper tax filings, failure to pay dues, and under-reporting of taxable transactions. It also outlines punishments under Sections 33(2), 33(5), 33(11), and 33(13), which relate to failure to issue invoices, not depositing taxes, use of false documents, and deliberate tax evasion.
Three others — Hussain Kazmi, Syed Ali Massum Naqvi, and Imran Musel — are also named in the FIR as co-accused.
According to the FBR, Ansari significantly under-reported sales figures and declared taxable sales without corresponding purchases, an inconsistency for a retail-based business. An internal analysis revealed “serious discrepancies and an abnormal profile” in his tax returns.
Bank records obtained by the FBR allegedly show foreign remittances and frequent cash deposits lacking proper documentation. On February 20, with court-approved warrants, FBR teams conducted search operations at three business locations linked to Ansari, including an undeclared manufacturing facility in Karachi’s Mehran Town.
Documents seized during the raids reportedly indicate substantial undeclared sales volumes and widespread use of staff names to conceal large cash transactions. The FBR claims the evidence suggests a significantly larger business operation than officially disclosed.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to assess the full extent of the alleged tax evasion.
