Date:03/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120318180300.htm

New Delhi

Gang of cheats smashed

Staff Reporter

They used to withdraw cash using stolen cheques

NEW DELHI: A gang of alleged professional cheats involved in over a dozen cases of cash withdrawal through stolen cheques from various multinational banks has been busted by the Delhi police.

According to the police, the alleged mastermind, Vijender Kumar, along with two of his accomplices, Devender Sain and Inderjeet Singh, had cheated the banks of more than Rs.70 lakhs using fictitious accounts and forged documents. The accused took advantage of semi-literate bank customers and procured their cheques or requisite details on the pretext of offering them help in carrying out transactions.

Later they took back the cheques from the counter on the pretext of making certain changes to them or stole them from drop boxes. Subsequently the cheques were presented for encashment against fictitious bank accounts opened through forged documents. One of the gangsters, Inderjeet Singh, who owned a photocopy shop in Alaknanda Market, helped them in forging driving licences, elections ID cards and other documents required for opening accounts in different banks. Based on the investigation of a certain case lodged at the CP police station, the modus operandi of the accused was eventually analysed and an account in the name of Rajiv Nanda at HDFC and Standard Chartered Bank was traced. Subsequently a trap was laid by the police with the help of the bank and Vijender Kumar was arrested. On sustained interrogation he purportedly confessed to his involvement in over a dozen cases of cheating in the past couple of years. During a search of his house the police claimed to have recovered over a dozen cheque books, ATM cards, a mobile phone, nearly 50 CDs, forged driving licences and PAN cards. Besides, Rs.79,500 in cash has been recovered.