Fraudsters Cheat Over 50 People of Rs 1 Crore in Chamba; Attempt to Swindle DC Foiled

Churah (Chamba), December 16: A private finance company operating in Churah, Chamba, has been accused of defrauding over 50 individuals of Rs 1 crore by promising lucrative returns on investments. The victims, after realizing they were cheated, approached the Teesa police station on Monday, lodging a formal complaint against three employees of the company. The police have now registered a case against the accused and launched an investigation.

The fraudsters, identified as Ranjan Mahajan, Brijendra Singh, and Yusuf Mohammad, had set up the finance company a few years ago. They attracted investors by offering interest rates much higher than those provided by banks. Many people, lured by the promise of quick returns, invested their money. However, the accused shut down the company’s office and absconded, leaving the investors with significant financial losses.

This is not the first time the accused have been reported for fraudulent activities. Last year, several people had filed complaints against the trio for similar cheating schemes. Among the complainants are Shabbir Mohammad, Siddharth Malhotra, Vinod Kumar, Reena Kumari, Devi Singh, Nanak Chand, and Rahul Kumar, who have all requested the police to take strict action and recover their lost funds.

Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav confirmed that the police have initiated a case against the three employees and are in the process of questioning them. He stated that it would only be after further investigation that the total amount extorted from the public could be determined.

All the news of Himachal Pradesh on our WhatsApp channel

In a separate incident, the same fraudsters attempted to deceive the Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, Mukesh Repaswal, using a fraudulent WhatsApp account. On Monday afternoon, the DC received messages from a WhatsApp number, claiming to be from a person named “Mukesh Repaswal” and demanding funds. The scammers tried to convince the DC that they were the real DC, using the name “Kulbir” in their initial message. However, the Deputy Commissioner quickly realized the scam and responded with his real identity.

After receiving multiple messages and even a voice call from the fraudsters, the Deputy Commissioner stopped responding. He then lodged a formal complaint with the cyber crime department, and the police have since initiated an investigation into the matter. The scammer used the number 99320-52917, and authorities are working to track the individual behind the fraudulent activity.

Both cases highlight the increasing threat of financial and cyber fraud in Himachal Pradesh, prompting authorities to intensify their vigilance and investigations.