3 held for duping people using fake govt scheme

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police arrested three persons for allegedly running a large-scale fraud in the name of a government scheme and cheating vendors of crores of rupees.

According to investigators, the accused — Karunakar Upadhyay, Anita Upadhyay and Saurabh Singh — set up a trust called Rashtriya Gramin Saksharta Mission (RGSM) and posed as officials of a government undertaking to lure suppliers.

The police said the accused presented the RGSM as a Government of India initiative meant to provide school uniforms to children from underprivileged backgrounds.

They allegedly invited vendors to register and supply uniforms, promising tenders and payments from the scheme. Moreover, the vendors were also persuaded to deposit earnest money, commission amounts and charges for stamp papers.

After collecting uniforms and money, the accused allegedly defaulted on payments and misappropriated the goods. An enquiry led to the registration of a case at the EOW police station, Mandir Marg. During probe, investigators found that the accused had opened a bank account in the name of the RGSM and issued advertisements in newspapers for tenders.

Funds withdrawn from the trust’s account were allegedly diverted for personal use. Karunakar Upadhyay, who has previously been booked in cases of fraud and rape in Uttar Pradesh, was described as the main conspirator, while Anita Upadhyay, head of the trust, was also found to be a beneficiary of funds from RGSM accounts, said Amrutha Guguloth, Additional Commissioner of Police (EOW).

The official said the group had even created a fake website, forged letterheads bearing words “a Government of India Undertaking,” and impersonated IAS officers to convince targets of their legitimacy.

“Agreements were signed with vendors for supplying goods to be distributed among poor students. After delivery, payments were withheld, and vendors were pressured to pay further amounts as commission or for allotment of tenders,” the Additional Commissioner mentioned.

Karunakar and Anita Upadhyay were arrested on July 16. During interrogation, they revealed the name of another fraudster, Saurabh, who was arrested from Lucknow on September 15.

During the probe, the police recovered around 45,000 school uniforms valued at approximately Rs 1.5 crore, along with Rs 2.79 lakh in cash, a gold ring and a gold chain. Investigators have also identified properties purchased with the alleged proceeds of crime, including two flats acquired between November 2024 and January 2025 and a car bought in December 2024. Proceedings are underway to attach the properties, while the car has been seized.

Officials said the accused were linked to several other criminal cases registered in different parts of the country. Further investigation is on to trace other victims and recover more assets obtained through the alleged scam.