Businessman, bank clerk held for fraud

New Delhi: A debt-ridden businessman and a bank clerk were arrested along with two others in north Delhi for allegedly fraudulently withdrawing Rs 33 lakh from the account of a teenaged boy using forged cheques, the police

said today.

The clerk Dinesh Chandra Chauhan (59) allegedly provided details of the account and specimen of signature of the account-holder to businessman Manoj Tyagi who conspired with others to get a fresh cheque book issued and withdraw Rs 33

lakh.

Manoj Tyagi (38), his friend Sapna Das (22) and Raj Kumar (42) were arrested along with Chauhan while five others Mukesh, Rahul Aggarwal, Sikander, Anil and Rajender are absconding, S S Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North),

said.

Manoj had purchased seven gold biscuits worth Rs eight lakh with the money.

18-year-old Rahul, a resident of Burari Delhi, had deposited Rs 84.90 lakh in his account in Bank of Baroda's Burari Branch in August last year after the sale of some property.

The fraud came to light on December eight last when Rahul and his brother Pramod were informed by the bank manager that a huge amount of money was withdrawn from the account.

Manoj told interrogators that he was into manufacturing of polythene bags but he incurred a loss and shut down his unit. His friend Mukesh gave him an idea that some amount can be got transferred in fake accounts from some bank, Yadav

said.

Chauhan, a friend of Mukesh, Rahul Aggarwal, Sikandar,Anil, and Sapna Das allegedly joined the conspiracy.

"Manoj got issued a fresh cheque book by presenting forged documents through Das. Chauhan facilitated the issue of this chequebook. The accused person withdrew an amount of Rs 33 lakhs in fake accounts," Yadav said.

During investigations, Rahul's brother Pramod told the police that he had received a call from someone claiming to be a friend of Rahul saying that the latter had committed a murder in the school. When Rahul returned from school, his brother asked him about the murder and he said nothing like that had happened.

Four days later, Pramod again received a call from a person claiming to be the manager of a bank seeking details about the account.

During investigations, it came to light that Rs ten lakh had already been withdrawn and a cheque of Rs 8.5 lakh was under process.