West Bengal Men Allegedly Defraud Hazaribag Businessman in Elaborate Gold Bond Scam
In a shocking case of financial deception, four individuals from West Bengal have been accused of orchestrating a sophisticated scam that duped a businessman from Barhi, Hazaribag, out of a substantial sum of Rs 14 lakh. The fraudulent scheme involved the sale of counterfeit papers related to a government gold bond, with the incident coming to light only after the victim, Shiv Shankar Pandey, took legal action by filing a First Information Report (FIR) at the Barhi police station on February 17.
Details of the Fraudulent Encounter and Investment Proposal
Shiv Shankar Pandey, a 38-year-old resident of Chatro village within the Barhi police station limits, detailed in his FIR (registered as case No. 67/26) how he was initially approached by three men at a petrol pump located on the Barhi-Dhanbad Road in November of the previous year. The accused individuals, identified as Montu Saw from Shitalapur Purban Burdwan district in West Bengal, along with Anil Rai and Suresh Pandey, reportedly gained Pandey's trust through discussions about renting an excavator machine.
Building on this newfound rapport, the trio allegedly presented an enticing investment opportunity, claiming they had access to the Centre's Gold Bond from 1998, which they valued at an astonishing Rs 12.6 crore. They explained to Pandey that a sum of Rs 35 lakh was required to release the bond, promising him significant profits once the amount was successfully withdrawn. Lured by the prospect of high returns, Pandey agreed to participate in the scheme.
The Elaborate Scam Unfolds Across Multiple Locations
On December 6, Shiv Shankar Pandey, accompanied by one of his associates, traveled to Govindpur in Dhanbad as part of the arrangement. From there, they were escorted to Asansol in the Paschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal, where they were introduced to a businessman named Ajay Kumar. During this meeting, the accused informed Pandey that specific genealogy papers and a no-objection certificate were necessary to process the gold bond.
Between December 14 and January 17, Pandey transferred a total of Rs 14 lakh to bank accounts linked to Anil Rai and Suresh Pandey. In return, the accused provided him with documents that were purportedly related to the government gold bond, along with a receipt, and subsequently demanded the remaining Rs 21 lakh to complete the transaction.
Discovery of the Fraud and Police Investigation
In the interim period, Shiv Shankar Pandey decided to verify the authenticity of the papers he had received. Upon examination, he discovered that the documents were completely fake. On February 6, he contacted Suresh Pandey to request a refund of his money. Instead of complying, Suresh allegedly responded with threats of dire consequences if Pandey chose to involve the police.
Undeterred by the intimidation, Shiv Shankar Pandey proceeded to file an FIR at the Barhi police station. Binod Kumar, the officer-in-charge of the station, confirmed on Thursday that the matter is currently under active investigation. He stated, "The case is being thoroughly examined, and appropriate action will be taken against those found guilty of the fraud." The police are now working to track down the accused individuals and gather further evidence to build a strong case.
This incident highlights the growing prevalence of investment scams in the region, where criminals exploit trust and promise unrealistic returns to defraud unsuspecting victims. Authorities urge the public to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of any investment opportunities before committing funds.
