Arrest in Sitapur
Sitapur police have arrested a married pair accused of swindling approximately ₹27 lakh by posing as a Punjab National Bank manager and an Income Tax Department inspector. The suspects, identified as Rohit Bajpai and his wife Annu Bajpai (also known as Chandra), hail from Kannauj.
How the Fraud Unfolded
Investigators say the duo first scouted the neighbourhood in May before moving into a rented house in Prem Nagar on 31 August. Rohit introduced himself as the manager of the Mishrikh branch of Punjab National Bank, while Annu claimed to be an Income Tax inspector, each brandishing counterfeit ID cards to lend credibility to their ruse.
Victims and the Money Trail
Their initial victim, Ramnaresh Jaiswal, was duped out of ₹20 lakh with the promise of securing auctioned gold at a steep discount. He later handed over an additional ₹2 lakh for a supposed exchange of damaged currency notes. Other victims included Premlata Bajpai, who lost ₹1 lakh, and laundry operator Atul, who was defrauded of ₹4 lakh.
Escape Route and Asset Recovery
After the scams, the pair fled by car on 14 September, hopping between vehicles and traversing Agra, Kota, Betul and Chennai in an attempt to evade capture. Law enforcement recovered ₹14 lakh in cash, jewellery valued at about ₹6 lakh, four mobile phones and a cache of forged identification documents. Two of the phones alone were appraised at roughly ₹50,000 each.
Investigation Findings
Superintendent of Police Ankur Agrawal disclosed that, during questioning, the couple admitted to orchestrating similar scams since 2005. Their modus operandi involved moving across state lines, contacting potential victims under false pretences, and disappearing once the money was secured.
Reward for Information
The police team that cracked the case has been offered a reward of ₹25,000 for their diligent work.
