A couple has been arrested for swindling ₹27 lakh by posing as a fake bank manager and an Income Tax inspector; they deceived people with promises of securing auctioned gold at low rates and exchanging torn or mutilated currency notes. Authorities recovered ₹14 lakh in cash, jewelry worth approximately ₹6 lakh, fake identity cards, and four mobile phones from the accused.
Rohit Bajpai, a resident of Kannauj, and his wife Annu Bajpai (alias Chandra) had scouted the town in May. On August 31, they began living as tenants in a house owned by Ramnaresh Jaiswal in Premnagar. Rohit identified himself as the Branch Manager of PNB Mishrikh, while Annu claimed to be an Income Tax inspector; both presented fake identity cards. After gaining his trust, the accused took ₹20 lakh from Ramnaresh for auctioned gold and ₹2 lakh for exchanging currency notes. Additionally, they swindled ₹1 lakh from Premlata Bajpai and ₹4 lakh from Atul, a laundry operator. On September 14, the couple fled in a car. They remained on the run, frequently changing vehicles and locations across Agra, Kota, Betul, and Chennai. They used the proceeds of the fraud to purchase jewelry worth about ₹6 lakh and two mobile phones costing ₹50,000. Superintendent of Police Ankur Agrawal stated that the accused confessed to committing fraud since 2005, noting that they traveled across various states to carry out these crimes. The police team involved in the case will be awarded ₹25,000.
