Friends share name, b’day & PAN

TUMKUR: Sharing a name is commonplace, and the same date of birth is not uncommon. But two friends in Tumkur district have found they share the same permanent account number (PAN).
It is a story of two Rajanaiks — one from Aladakatte Thandya in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk of Tumkur district, and the other from Tiptur. They share the same name, they are also in the same profession — while one is a cluster resource person in Halkurike in Tumkur, the other is a teacher at Kadaba in Gubbi, Tumkur district.
The goof-up by the IT department came to light when Rajanaik, the teacher, wanted to open a bank account in Kadaba. The bank told him he already had an account in their Tiptur branch and had even taken a housing loan. Surprised, Naik checked out the details and found that the bank account belonged to his namesake and friend.
But the two Naiks had a shock awaiting them, when they found that their PAN cards carried the same number. Rajanaik of Chikkanayakanahalli told TOI: “When I spoke to the Kadaba bank officer, I was surprised as I had not taken a loan from any bank. I suspected a racket by the bank employees, then enquired at the Tiptur branch. There, I came to know that my PAN card carries the same number as my friend’s.”
The saving grace is that the two cards carry different photographs, though the name, father’s name and birth date are the same. Rajanaik of Tiptur said he brought the anomaly to the notice of the IT department, but nothing has come of it so far. “We can’t use our cards until then is sorted out,” he said.