A Bollywood filmmaker has been accused of evading £4.5million in tax by claiming for movies that did not exist. Sandeep Arora – who is known in Bollywood as Karan Arora – lived in Beckton while he ran a central London production company from 2007 to 2011.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) and City of London Police, who put Arora on a wanted list of 10 people, said he filed for film tax and VAT claims for films titled Billy the Beagle, London Dreams, Kuan Bola, Aagosh, Trapped and Dream Girl – but they either did not exist or he had no involvement in them.
It is believed the 42-year-old – who police said purports to be a producer making movies in India and Fiiji – is in India. He is “highly likely” to commit more crimes unless he is caught, the police appeal added.
The drive to find Arora is part of an appeal to locate 10 suspected fraudsters accused of owing more than £20m.
Donal Toon, director of the NCA’s Economic Crime Command, said the 10 had caused “distress and loss” to people and businesses across the country.
“Law enforcement cannot tackle this problem alone,” he said.
“It is important that anyone able to provide information on the ten fraudsters we are highlighting today takes the opportunity to pass that information to law enforcement to help bring them to justice.”
Anyone with information about Arora’s whereabouts is asked to call the Customs Confidential Hotline on 0800 595 0000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
