Jaipur Police Expands Investigation into Massive Rs 400 Crore Export Incentive Fraud
In a significant escalation of the ongoing probe into a Rs 400 crore export incentive fraud case, the Jaipur police have broadened their investigation to include multiple districts and states. On Tuesday, authorities dispatched specialized teams to New Delhi, Sikar, and Jodhpur to track down additional suspects and dismantle the extensive network behind this sophisticated racket.
Arrests Reveal Only "Tip of the Iceberg"
Senior police officials have indicated that the five arrests made on Monday represent merely the "tip of the iceberg" in this complex case. Fresh investigative leads have uncovered a nexus involving multiple players, with indications pointing towards the involvement of certain chartered accountant firms based in Delhi, as well as individuals from Sikar and Jodhpur.
Om Prakash, Special Commissioner (Operations) of Jaipur police, confirmed the expansion of the operation. "We have dispatched teams to Delhi, Sikar, and Jodhpur to arrest more accused. The probe so far suggests links with CA firms and other associates," he stated.
Details of the Arrested Accused and Investigation
The five individuals arrested on Monday—Sultan Khan, Nand Kishor, Nirmal Soni, Ashok Kumar Bhandari, and Pramod Khatri, all residents of Jodhpur—have been remanded to five-day police custody. Officials believe that their custodial interrogation will yield crucial details about the network's operations and financial trail.
Investigators have revealed that the accused employed a sophisticated method to execute the fraud. They used forged Aadhaar and PAN details to generate fake digital signature certificates (DSCs), which then provided unauthorized access to the DGFT-ICEGATE system. This access allowed them to divert duty credit scrips under government schemes such as RoDTEP and RoSCTL into fake importer-exporter code accounts, which were subsequently encashed.
Uncovering the Financial Network and Mule Accounts
The police have identified several mule bank accounts that were utilized to launder the illicit proceeds. These accounts are currently under intense scrutiny as part of the ongoing investigation. "Some mule accounts are on our radar. This is a large nexus, and more arrests will follow," added Special Commissioner Prakash, emphasizing the scale and complexity of the fraud.
This expansion of the probe underscores the determination of the Jaipur police to unravel the entire network involved in this high-value financial crime. The investigation continues to evolve, with authorities committed to bringing all perpetrators to justice and recovering the misappropriated funds.
