A three-member gang, which allegedly cheated gullible customers at various bank branches in South Delhi by swapping their money with sheafs of ordinary paper, has been busted by Delhi Police.
The three accused, identified as Bhullan Sahni (30), Sanjay Sahni (22) and Rambali (31), were arrested by a team of Special Staff, South District on Wednesday. Police also recovered three stolen mobile phones and an autorickshaw used by the gang in the commission of the crime. There had been at least 10 cases of theft and cheating at various banks in South Delhi following which Special Staff, South District was tasked to identify the culprits and nab them.
A police squad visited various banks where incidents of cheating had been reported earlier, analysed the CCTV footage and collected some vital clues. “On Wednesday, the squad was informed that a group of three youngsters, previously involved in other cases of cheating with bank customers by exchanging original currency notes with sheafs of paper, would come via MB Road from lado Sarai to Saket in an autorickshaw to commit a similar switcheroo in Saket area.
“The squad laid a trap near E-Block, Saket on MB Road and around 4 pm, the team signalled an autorickshaw to stop. The occupants were identified as Bhullan Sahni, Sanjay Sahni and Rambail,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Prem Nath. Upon a search, three stolen mobile phones were recovered from their possession. Subsequently, the trio was arrested and subjected to sustained interrogation.
During interrogation, the trio disclosed that Brahm Dev had given the stolen mobile phones to them for use during commission of crime. The gang used to prepare bundles of paper of the size of Indian currency notes and place genuine notes on both side of the bundle, mostly in denominations of `500. “They’d go to bank branches and identify a soft target, preferably the old or the illiterate. They would then approach their target saying they want to send cash home. They’d offer their target a good commission for services rendered,” said Prem Nath. In the meantime, they’d switch the victim’s money with the sheaf of paper and escape in the waiting autorickshaw. Efforts are being made to arrest the absconding kingpin Brahm Dev, he said.