Arrest in Sitapur
Police in Sitapur have detained a married couple accused of duping victims of approximately ₹27 lakh by pretending to be a bank manager and an Income Tax inspector. The suspects, Rohit Bajpai and his wife Annu Bajpai (also known as Chandra), hail from Kannauj.
How the Ruse Was Executed
Investigators say the duo first scouted the locality in May before moving into a rented house in Prem Nagar on 31 August. Rohit claimed to be the manager of the Punjab National Bank branch in Mishrikh, while Annu presented herself as an Income Tax Department officer, both brandishing counterfeit identity cards to support their claims.
Victims and the Money Trail
The initial victim, Ramnaresh Jaiswal, was persuaded to part with ₹20 lakh after being promised discounted auctioned gold. He was later coaxed into handing over another ₹2 lakh for a supposed exchange of damaged currency notes. Other victims included Premlata Bajpai, who lost ₹1 lakh, and laundry proprietor Atul, who was swindled out of ₹4 lakh.
Escape 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 effort to avoid capture. Authorities recovered ₹14 lakh in cash, jewellery valued at roughly ₹6 lakh, four mobile phones and several forged identification documents. Two of the phones alone were estimated to be worth about ₹50,000.
Investigation Findings
Superintendent of Police Ankur Agrawal revealed that during questioning the couple admitted to running similar confidence tricks since 2005. Their pattern involved traveling across states, establishing trust under false pretenses, and vanishing once the money was secured.
Reward for Information
The police unit that dismantled the operation has been granted a reward of ₹25,000 for their diligent work.
