Crime – Fake Officials Cheat Railway Passengers, Three Accused Arrested
Crime – Police have arrested three individuals accused of deceiving passengers near railway stations by posing as officials and exploiting security fears to carry out theft and financial fraud.
Incident Reported Near New Delhi Railway Station
The case came to light after a complaint was filed by a man who had arrived in the capital from Bihar on March 12. According to police, he was waiting for public transport near Tagore Road, close to New Delhi Railway Station, when he was approached by an auto-rickshaw driver offering a ride.
Soon after he boarded the vehicle, another individual joined as a fellow passenger, claiming to be headed toward Badarpur. The journey appeared routine at first, but the situation changed when a third man entered the auto midway.
Accused Posed as Government Official
Investigators said the third individual introduced himself as a government official conducting security checks, citing ongoing tensions and heightened safety measures. Using this pretext, he began questioning the passenger and asked to inspect his belongings.
During what seemed like an official verification process, the accused took possession of the victim’s cash and ATM card. He assured the passenger that the items would be returned after inspection and handed over a sealed envelope, claiming it contained all belongings.
Victim Discovers Financial Loss
After reaching his destination in Badarpur, the complainant opened the envelope and found that both the cash and ATM card were missing. Later, he also discovered that a total of Rs 52,000 had been withdrawn from his bank account using the stolen card.
Realizing he had been deceived, the victim approached the police and provided details of the incident, including the route taken and description of the suspects.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Following the complaint, police teams analyzed CCTV footage from the area and tracked the movement of the auto-rickshaw involved in the crime. Based on technical evidence and confidential inputs, officers traced the suspects to Asola in the Fatehpur Beri area.
A raid was conducted, leading to the arrest of three men identified as Krishan Kumar, Ravi Kumar, and Rahul Gupta. Officials confirmed that all three were actively involved in executing the fraud.
Modus Operandi Revealed
During interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted that they specifically targeted passengers near railway stations and nearby roads, where travelers are often unfamiliar with the surroundings and more vulnerable.
Police said Krishan Kumar typically drove the auto-rickshaw and initiated contact with potential victims by offering rides. Rahul Gupta would then join as a co-passenger to build trust and make the situation appear normal.
At a later stage of the journey, Ravi Kumar would enter the vehicle, posing as a government official. He would claim that security checks were necessary due to prevailing national concerns. With the driver supporting the narrative, victims were persuaded to comply without suspicion.
Under the guise of routine verification, Ravi would collect cash and ATM cards and even ask for PIN details, which were later used to withdraw money from the victims’ accounts.
Police Advisory for Public Safety
Authorities have urged passengers to remain cautious while using public transport, especially near busy transit points such as railway stations. Officials emphasized that no legitimate security check would involve collecting personal belongings or asking for confidential banking information.
Passengers are advised to verify the identity of any individual claiming to be an official and to report suspicious activity immediately. Police have also increased surveillance in vulnerable areas to prevent similar incidents.
The case highlights the need for awareness among travelers, particularly those arriving from outside the city, to avoid falling prey to such organized fraud schemes.