Fake IT officer dupes Urban Estate-1 resident of Rs 3 lakh, probe ordered

A man posing as an Income Tax officer allegedly duped a resident of Urban Estate, Phase-1, Iqbaljit Singh Bhatia of Rs 3 lakh by promising to arrange gold for him at a cheaper rate.

The victim has submitted a complaint with the Commissioner’s office on Monday, which has been marked for further inquiry at the cyber cell and police station.

How tenant defrauded owner

Chandra told Bhatia that he could arrange gold at a cheaper rate through his position in the Income Tax Department. Trusting him , Bhatia withdrew Rs 3 lakh from SBI, Choti Baradari branch and handed it over to Chandra. The accused assured him that he would deliver the gold within a few days.

According to the complaint, he was introduced to the accused, identified as Subhash Chandra, a resident of Bhopal (as per documents he submitted to the complainant), on February 7 through a property dealer based on Garha Road. Chandra claimed to have been recently transferred to Jalandhar and was looking for rental accommodation.

Trusting his claim of being an Income Tax officer, Bhatia agreed to rent out the first floor of his house for a period of two or three years.

Bhatia further stated that Chandra did not pay the security deposit, saying his wallet had been stolen while travelling to Jalandhar. Believing his story, Bhatia allowed him to move in, with the promise that he would pay the deposit within a week.

A few days later, Chandra, during a conversation with Bhatia, claimed that he could arrange gold at a cheaper rate through his position in the Income Tax Department. Trusting him again, Bhatia withdrew Rs 3 lakh from SBI, Choti Baradari branch, on February 13 and handed it over to Chandra, who accompanied him to the bank. The accused assured him that he would deliver the gold within a few days.

However, after two days, when Chandra neither delivered the gold, nor returned his calls, Bhatia became suspicious. His phone remained switched off and further inquiries at the Income Tax Department revealed that no officer by the name of Subhash Chandra had been transferred or employed there.

Realising that he had been defrauded, Bhatia approached the police and lodged a complaint, seeking action against the accused and the recovery of his money.

Meanwhile, police officials stated that they were verifying the claims, after which an FIR would be registered. They also urged residents to conduct proper police verification before renting out their properties and to be cautious of fraudsters offering easy-money schemes.