Lucknow: A woman was arrested in Lucknow for allegedly swindling a retired IAS officer of Rs 1 crore under the guise of securing liquor shop licenses. The crime was carried out in collaboration with her husband, who was arrested on November 1, after the victim, Hari Prasad Singh, filed a complaint regarding the fraudulent scheme.
The retired officer, Hari Prasad Singh, who served as a special secretary in the government until 2017, reported the incident to the Gomtinagar police after he was duped by a man named Rakesh Sharma. Singh claimed that he met Rakesh on May 2 in Patrakarpuram, where Rakesh, presenting himself as someone with connections in the police, administration, and excise department, promised to secure licenses for three liquor shops in the city.
Singh was convinced by Rakesh’s assurances and, over several months, paid a total of Rs 1 crore from May to September, which included a cheque for Rs 22.62 lakh and Rs 75.50 lakh in cash. However, when the deal failed to materialize, Singh became suspicious and filed a complaint with the police.
Following the complaint, Rakesh Sharma was arrested on November 1, and his wife, Shakuntala, was apprehended on Tuesday. Inspector Rajesh Kumar Tripathi confirmed the arrests and stated that investigations were ongoing to determine whether other individuals were involved in the scam.
The case highlights the growing concerns of fraudulent activities in which individuals misuse fake connections and promises to exploit unsuspecting victims, especially in high-profile sectors like liquor licensing.
