LUCKNOW: Desperation to save himself from creditors drove a man to concoct a story of fake robbery after he lost around Rs 18 lakh in an online game.
On Aug 20, businessman Arvind Singh Gautam (48) approached Sarojininagar police station with a dramatic story in which he claimed that while he was travelling from Banda to Lucknow, his car was stopped near Transportnagar Metro station during a routine police check.
He claimed that a sub-inspector, Amit Singh, and two constables searched his vehicle and seized Rs 5.5 lakh from his car on the pretext of depositing it at the police station.
Gautam claimed that after the sub-inspector left, the constables left him near Krishnanagar police station. He alleged that when he tried to file a complaint about the incident, the police refused to register his case and asked him to return the next day. Gautam’s story raised suspicion and was found to be fake during investigation.
During investigation, police found nothing to substantiate Gautam’s claims. His mobile location data showed that on Aug 20, he did not leave Banda for Lucknow. During investigation, police found that Gautam lost Rs 18 lakh in online gambling. He borrowed lakhs of rupees from relatives, friends, and even his wife. Unable to repay debt, Gautam fabricated the story of police robbery.
DCP, south zone, Keshav Kumar said that Gautam’s actions were part of a calculated attempt to falsely implicate the police and get reprieve through fraudulent means. An FIR was lodged against Gautam following which he was arrested on Tuesday.