Economic Offences Wing Apprehends Wanted Accused in Major Investment Fraud Case
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Lucknow made a significant breakthrough on Monday by arresting a key wanted accused in the high-profile Shine City Infra Project Private Limited fraud case. This multi-crore scam has allegedly defrauded numerous investors across Uttar Pradesh, causing widespread financial distress.
Arrest of Nekpal Singh Alias Nikki
Acting on intelligence, an EOW team successfully apprehended the accused, identified as Nekpal Singh, also known as Nikki, from the Krishna Nagar police station area in Lucknow. Singh had been evading authorities since the case was registered, employing deceptive tactics to avoid capture.
Details of the Shine City Infra Project Fraud
According to the Economic Offences Wing, Shine City Infra Project Private Limited orchestrated a sophisticated scheme that targeted investors in several districts of Uttar Pradesh. The company lured individuals with attractive offers of low-cost residential plots and other seemingly lucrative benefits, promising substantial returns on investment.
The fraudulent operation involved collecting crores of rupees from the public under false pretenses. Despite receiving funds, the company failed to allocate plots or refund the invested money, leaving victims in financial ruin. Following the exposure of the alleged fraud, the directors and senior officials of the company abruptly shut down their offices and disappeared, going absconding to escape legal consequences.
Role of the Arrested Accused
Nekpal Singh, son of Baijnath Singh and a resident of Gagan village under Mal police station limits in Lucknow, served as an associate at the company's Lucknow office located at R Square, Vipul Khand. In this capacity, he is accused of actively misleading investors, persuading them to invest money by falsely guaranteeing that their funds would double within a few months. His alleged involvement was pivotal in perpetuating the scam.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation
In connection with this case, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at Gomti Nagar police station in Lucknow in 2020. The FIR included charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code:
- Section 409 (criminal breach of trust)
- Section 420 (cheating)
- Sections 467, 468, and 471 (forgery-related offences)
- Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy)
Initially, the investigation was conducted at the district level. However, due to the extensive scale and complexity of the fraud, the case was transferred to the Economic Offences Wing on government orders for a more thorough and specialized probe.
Evasion Tactics and Arrest
Police officials revealed that Nekpal Singh had been absconding since the case was first registered. To evade arrest, he allegedly changed his identity, operating under the name Harshit Singh, son of Baijnath, and was working with a real estate company named "Win-More" at the time of his apprehension. This disguise highlights the lengths to which the accused went to avoid facing justice.
The arrest marks a critical step in the ongoing investigation, as authorities continue to pursue other absconding individuals linked to the Shine City Infra Project fraud. The EOW's efforts underscore the commitment to combating economic crimes and protecting investors from such deceptive schemes in Uttar Pradesh.
