Gurgaon Travel Firm Employees Nabbed in Rs 10 Lakh Scam
In a significant financial fraud case, the Sadar police in Gurgaon have arrested two employees of a private tour and travel company. The duo stands accused of systematically siphoning off approximately Rs 10.10 lakh from their employer by diverting company funds into the bank accounts of their relatives and acquaintances.
How the Fraud Unfolded
The elaborate scheme came to light after a company representative lodged a formal written complaint at the Sadar police station on August 13. The complaint detailed alleged manipulation of financial transactions by staff within the firm's finance department. The company, which offers both domestic and international travel services, routinely processes payments to its agents through accounts managed by this internal team.
Initial red flags were raised much earlier, on May 22, during a standard internal review of the accounts. Several suspicious transactions caught the attention of auditors. A subsequent internal inquiry uncovered a disturbing pattern: payments that were officially recorded as disbursements to legitimate company agents were, in reality, being transferred to unrelated or entirely fake bank accounts. The probe conclusively pointed to foul play by the company's own employees, leading to the registration of a formal case.
The Arrests and Recovery
Acting on the complaint, police investigators swiftly identified and apprehended the accused. The arrested individuals are Avnish Kumar (32), a resident of Mainpuri district in Uttar Pradesh, and Ranjan Kumar (32), from Ghaziabad. They were taken into custody from Gurgaon on Thursday. During the arrest, law enforcement officials recovered Rs 50,000 in cash from the suspects.
According to police statements, Avnish Kumar confessed to the crime. He admitted that he and his colleague, Ranjan, had orchestrated a plan to reroute money intended for genuine company agents. The funds were instead channeled into accounts belonging to their relatives and acquaintances. After the fraudulent transfers were completed, the two would then split the illicit proceeds between themselves.
Ongoing Investigation and Next Steps
The total estimated loss from this financial manipulation currently stands at Rs 10.10 lakh. Police officials have confirmed that a further probe is actively underway. The investigation aims to trace the remaining siphoned-off funds and determine whether any other individuals were involved in or had knowledge of the fraudulent activity. The case highlights vulnerabilities in internal financial controls within companies and serves as a cautionary tale for businesses to conduct regular and thorough audits of their transaction records.
