Raipur, Chhattisgarh: In a recent development, the police have apprehended two individuals accused of defrauding four government officials by promising protection from potential actions by the Enforcement Directorate. The arrested individuals, identified as Ashwani Bhatia (54) and Nishant Ingde (24), both hailing from Maharashtra, allegedly duped the officials, according to a police spokesperson.
The victims of the scam include two officials from the Excise Department and one each from the Environment Conservation Board and the Mineral Department, as revealed by Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Neeraj Chandrakar in a statement to ANI.
The accused duo is accused of extorting Rs 5.60 lakh from each of their victims, said ASP Chandrakar. Moreover, it has been uncovered that the suspects employed the same modus operandi to deceive individuals across the country.
“One case has been registered in Durg district. The accused posed as officers from the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Economic Offences Wing (EOW), and Income Tax Department, gaining the trust of their victims through effective communication skills and fluent English,” explained the senior police official.
While currently four cases of duping government officials in Chhattisgarh have been reported, investigations are ongoing, shedding light on the extent of the scam and its potential impact. Further updates regarding the investigation are awaited.
