Kanpur police on Thursday arrested Mahfooz Alam, alias Pappu Chhuri Wala, the alleged mastermind of a gang that conducted transactions worth Rs 1,600 crore through 68 bank accounts over the past two years. The arrest came after a joint investigation by Chakeri and Jajmau police, along with cyber and surveillance units, into intimidation, fraud, and fake firms operated by the gang.
Probe Initiated After February Loot Incident
The investigation began following a February 16 loot incident in Shyam Nagar under Chakeri police station. Wasid of Yashoda Nagar and his aide Arshad claimed they were robbed of Rs 8 lakh at gunpoint. However, both later denied the robbery and kept changing their statements. Investigation revealed that both individuals worked for Pappu Chhuri, a tannery and scrap businessman from JK Colony, Jajmau.
Details of the Fraudulent Transactions
Police said that acting on Pappu Chhuri's orders, Wasid and his associate withdrew Rs 3.2 crore from a Shivansh Tannery account at IDBI Bank, Phoolbagh. They distributed Rs 2.95 crore among Pappu Chhuri's son Faiz, brother-in-law Mehtab, and other relatives. The duo was on their way to deliver the remaining Rs 25 lakh to Pappu Chhuri when police intervened.
As the probe widened, police uncovered a network linked to Pappu Chhuri and traced Rs 1,600 crore in transactions across 68 accounts in 12 banks over two years. The accounts were opened in the names of firms run by Pappu Chhuri, his family, and relatives, including wife Shayda, son Faiz, daughter Enam, brother Mishab, brother-in-law Mehtab, and Mehtab's son Maasoom. Teams were dispatched to track down Pappu Chhuri.
Fraud Against a Labourer and Others
Police said Pappu Chhuri and his family also defrauded a labourer, Nikhil Kumar of Juhi Parampurwa. Nikhil complained that Shiva, Aakash, Mahfooz, and Mehtab misused his Aadhaar and PAN to procure a fake SIM, obtain a GST number, and open a firm named Ravi Enterprises for illegal transactions. A case was registered against Nitin, Shiva, Aakash, Mahfooz, and Mehtab under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police said the firm's account saw transactions worth Rs 7.75 crore in six months.
In another case at Chakeri police station, Pappu Chhuri forged complainant Ajay Shukla's documents to register a firm named Maa Vindhyavasini Enterprises, police said. The accused ran the firm themselves. In a Jajmau police case, Pappu Chhuri took complainant Aarti's Aadhaar and PAN on the pretext of getting her an insurance card at a Jajmau hospital. He then fraudulently registered Aarti Enterprises in her name and used it for unlawful activities. Aarti was often ill.
Arrests Made
Acting on victims' complaints, police filed cases. A joint team arrested Pappu Chhuri's brother-in-law Mehtab Alam and his son Maasoom near Ramadevi Ramp on Monday. Pappu Chhuri was arrested on Thursday, police said.
