Crime Branch Freezes Rs47 Lakh, Issues LOC Against Trader in Rs800 Crore Scam
Nagpur: In a significant development in the Rs800 crore fake businesses scam, the Nagpur crime branch froze Rs47 lakh in the bank accounts of the accused, and secured a Lookout Circular (LOC) against trader Anshul Mishra.
Mishra, who was granted ad-interim bail by the court until June 2, is now under intense scrutiny as the police intensify their efforts to unravel the sprawling financial fraud. Police, though, said Mishra could have gone abroad a few days ago.
While the police launched a manhunt for two key suspects, Rajesh Shahu and Avinash Shahu, two other accused, Bunty Shahu and Jayesh Shahu, described as masterminds of the syndicate, were shifted to magisterial custody and sent to Nagpur Central Jail.
The scam involves a syndicate allegedly operating through 86 companies with 106 bank accounts.
The crime branch, led by deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Rahul Maknikar and assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Abhijeet Patil, has been working tirelessly to trace the flow of illicit funds. This week, the investigation team approached the GST office, urging officials to expedite the release of critical details about the companies involved, which could provide further clues.
Sources said Bunty and Jayesh played pivotal roles in orchestrating the scam, which allegedly involved online gaming and hawala transactions. Adding to the complexity of the case, the whereabouts of two other suspects, Vinod Tanna and Rizwan Shaikh alias Mamu, remain unknown. Both are believed to hold critical information about the syndicate's illicit activities, particularly to online gaming and hawala networks.
The police are leaving no stone unturned to locate these individuals. The authorities suspect a sophisticated network of fraudulent businesses siphoned off massive sums of money. The freezing of Rs47 lakh is seen as a crucial step in disrupting the financial operations of the syndicate, but just the tip of the iceberg.
The crime branch is working closely with financial and regulatory authorities to piece together the scam. The issuance of LOC against Mishra ensures he cannot flee the country, keeping the pressure on the accused.
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