Arrest in Sitapur
Police in Sitapur have apprehended a husband‑wife team accused of bilking roughly ₹27 lakh by pretending to be a bank manager and an Income Tax inspector. The duo, identified as Rohit Bajpai and his wife Annu Bajpai (also known as Chandra), hail from Kannauj.
How the Scam Unfolded
Investigators say the couple first canvassed the locality in May before taking a lease on a house in Prem Nagar on 31 August. Rohit claimed to be the manager of the Punjab National Bank’s Mishrikh branch, while Annu posed as an Income Tax Department inspector, both flashing counterfeit identity cards to lend credibility.
Victims and the Money Trail
The initial victim, Ramnaresh Jaiswal, was duped out of ₹20 lakh after being promised auctioned gold at a slashed price. He was later persuaded to part with an extra ₹2 lakh for a supposed exchange of damaged currency notes. Other victims included Premlata Bajpai, who lost ₹1 lakh, and laundry entrepreneur Atul, who surrendered ₹4 lakh.
Escape Attempt and Asset Recovery
Following the con, the pair fled by car on 14 September, hopping between vehicles and traversing Agra, Kota, Betul and Chennai to evade capture. Authorities recovered ₹14 lakh in cash, jewellery valued at about ₹6 lakh, four mobile phones and several forged identification documents. Two of the phones alone were appraised at roughly ₹50,000.
Investigation Insights
Superintendent of Police Ankur Agrawal revealed that during interrogation the suspects confessed to orchestrating similar scams since 2005. Their pattern involved moving across states, courting victims under false pretences, and disappearing once the funds were secured.
Reward for Tips
The investigative team that cracked the case has been offered a reward of ₹25,000 for their diligent work.
