Joint Police Operation Nabs Inter-State Fraud Gang in Record Time
In a significant coordinated effort, the Government Railway Police (GRP) of Haryana and the Special Task Force (STF) of Bihar have successfully dismantled an inter-state criminal network involved in a high-value cheating scheme. The operation, which resulted in the swift apprehension of the gang's mastermind and key accomplices, marks a notable achievement in cross-border law enforcement collaboration.
Swift Arrests Within 72 Hours of Case Registration
The police demonstrated remarkable efficiency by arresting the primary accused, Pankaj Kumar Lal, along with his associates Kaushal and Rajnish, from the Samastipur district of Bihar. This decisive action was completed within a mere 72 hours after the formal registration of the case, showcasing the effectiveness of the joint investigative teams.
Massive Financial Fraud Uncovered
The case came to light on January 17, 2026, when Naresh Joshi, a resident of Govindgarh in Punjab, filed a formal complaint. He alleged that the accused had deceitfully cheated him of a staggering Rs 1.90 crore. According to the complaint, the perpetrators lured the victim with false promises of doubling his investment and securing exceptionally high profits through fraudulent loan schemes.
Recognizing the severity of the financial crime, Superintendent of Police (Railways) Nitika Gehlot of Haryana promptly constituted multiple specialized teams. Their mission was to track down and apprehend the individuals responsible for this elaborate scam.
Coordinated Raids and Technical Surveillance
The operation involved seamless coordination between several units, including the GRP Police Station in Ambala Cantonment, the CIA GRP, the Cyber Team GRP, and the Bihar STF. Leveraging advanced technical surveillance and actionable local intelligence, police teams conducted continuous raids across multiple locations in Bihar.
After an intensive day-and-night effort, a team led by Inspector Harish Kumar, the In-charge of GRP Police Station Ambala, successfully arrested gang leader Pankaj Kumar Lal and his associates from the Dalsinghsarai area of Samastipur district on Tuesday night. Investigations revealed that accused Kaushal and Rajnish played active roles in ensnaring victims into the fraudulent network.
Substantial Recovery of Illegal Assets
Following the arrests, authorities conducted a search at the accused's residence in Ajnaul, leading to the recovery of a substantial cache of illegal assets. The seized items include:
- Cash amounting to Rs 6,02,000
- Gold jewellery valued at approximately Rs 15–16 lakh
- Two laptops and two hard disks
- Eight touchscreen mobile phones and ten keypad phones
- A luxury Innova car
Preliminary investigations further uncovered that the main accused, Pankaj Kumar Lal, had initiated the construction of a luxurious house worth around Rs 1 crore in the Ajnaul area of Dalsinghsarai, utilizing the illicitly obtained funds. Additionally, he was found to be associated with the supply of "Rail Neer" water and operated a rickshaw agency in Kalyanpur, under the jurisdiction of the Vibhutipur Police Station in Bihar.
Ongoing Investigations and Future Actions
Currently, all three accused are undergoing detailed interrogation by the authorities. Police officials have indicated that the investigation points to the involvement of several other individuals connected to this organized fraud network. Efforts are actively underway to identify and apprehend the remaining accused at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure complete justice.
This successful joint operation underscores the critical importance of inter-state police cooperation in tackling organized crime and financial fraud, setting a precedent for future collaborative efforts in law enforcement across regional boundaries.
