Arrest in Sitapur
Sitapur police have arrested a married pair accused of bilking approximately ₹27 lakh by pretending to be 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 Scam Unfolded
Investigators say the couple canvassed local neighborhoods in May, later moving into a rented flat in Prem Nagar on 31 August. Rohit introduced himself as the manager of the PNB branch in Mishrikh, while Annu claimed to be an Income Tax officer, both flashing forged identity cards to lend credibility.
Victims and Money Flow
Their first victim, Ramnaresh Jaiswal, was convinced to part with ₹20 lakh after being promised discounted auction gold. He was subsequently persuaded to hand over another ₹2 lakh for a fictitious swap of damaged banknotes. Other victims included Premlata Bajpai, who lost ₹1 lakh, and a laundry operator named Atul, who was duped of ₹4 lakh.
Escape Route and Asset Seizure
Following the frauds, the pair fled by car on 14 September, hopping between vehicles and traversing Agra, Kota, Betul and Chennai in an attempt to evade capture. Police recovered ₹14 lakh in cash, jewellery worth about ₹6 lakh, four mobile phones and several fake identification documents. Two of the phones alone were appraised at roughly ₹50,000.
Investigation Insights
Superintendent of Police Ankur Agrawal disclosed that, during questioning, the duo admitted to orchestrating similar scams since 2005. Their pattern involved traveling across states, establishing trust under false pretenses, and disappearing once the money was secured.
Reward for Leads
The police unit that dismantled the operation has been offered a reward of ₹25,000 for their diligent work.
