Lucknow: In yet another shocking case of street-level fraud in Uttar Pradesh’s capital, a fruit vendor was conned out of ₹50,000 in broad daylight in a manner that seemed straight out of a Bollywood film. The incident took place in the bustling Gomtinagar area of Lucknow, where Rajkumar, a young man who earns his living by selling fruits at a pushcart near the 1090 crossing, fell victim to an elaborate scam.
According to Rajkumar, the con began when he was approached by a man who introduced himself simply as “Singh Sahab.” Claiming to have connections with foreign companies and access to lucrative investment opportunities, the man promised to double Rajkumar’s money in no time. Gradually, Singh earned the vendor’s trust, shared three mobile numbers, and stayed in touch over WhatsApp, repeatedly emphasizing how a small investment in a foreign firm could bring quick and large returns.
Convinced by the seemingly genuine pitch, Rajkumar agreed to meet Singh on July 15 at the predetermined spot—under the Haniman Bridge in Virat Khand. When he reached the location with ₹50,000 in hand, Singh was already waiting along with an accomplice named Dharam. The two took the cash and handed over what appeared to be bundles of ₹500 notes. At first glance, the bundles looked authentic, with real notes visible on the top and bottom, but the rest were just worthless coupons stuffed in between.
Before Rajkumar could fully process what had happened, a car pulled up suddenly and four men got out. Claiming to be Crime Branch officers, they “arrested” Singh and Dharam on the spot and fled in their vehicle—leaving Rajkumar stunned and confused. Suspecting something was off, he opened the cash bundles and discovered the deception. Realizing he had been duped, Rajkumar consulted locals and immediately went to Gomtinagar police station to report the fraud.
Acting on his complaint, the police registered an FIR under IPC Sections 316(2) and 318(4) against Singh, Dharam, and four unidentified individuals. Investigators are now tracing the mobile numbers shared with Rajkumar and analyzing CCTV footage from the crime scene. Police officials said that the gang appears to be part of a larger organized racket and that arrests are likely soon.
