Police in Agra have apprehended two individuals for allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated fraud scheme that targeted parents desperate to secure admissions for their children in reputed convent schools. The accused are charged with using forged recommendation letters purportedly from state cabinet minister and Agra Rural MLA, Baby Rani Maurya, to deceive both families and school authorities.
The Modus Operandi of the Fraud
The accused have been identified as Tarun Banerjee, a building contractor, and Zaid Ahmed, who runs a tailoring shop in the Sadar area. Along with their accomplices, Sher Singh and Malik, they are alleged to have printed fake recommendation letters, forged the minister's signature, and submitted them to schools. Their plan relied on applying pressure on school administrations, believing they would not question documents carrying a minister's name.
The fraudsters specifically charged parents Rs 50,000 per child for this fraudulent service, exploiting the intense competition and anxiety surrounding admissions to top-tier schools. The scam continued until vigilant school officials decided to verify the authenticity of the letters directly with the minister's office.
How the Scam Unraveled
The elaborate deception fell apart when the concerned schools took the proactive step of verifying the recommendation letters. Upon contact, Baby Rani Maurya's office confirmed that the letters were completely fake. This discovery prompted an immediate police complaint.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Syed Ali Abbas stated that the investigation revealed the reference numbers and signatures on the letters were skillfully forged. Following a formal complaint by the minister earlier this month, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Hari Parwat police station.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
Sub-inspector Ajit Singh, the investigating officer, confirmed that Tarun Banerjee and Zaid Ahmed have been arrested and sent to judicial custody. Police teams are actively working to locate and arrest the two other accused, Sher Singh and Malik, who are currently at large.
The case has been registered under stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 318(4) for cheating, Section 336(4) for forgery, Section 338 for forgery of valuable security, and Section 340(2) for the use of a forged document.
Authorities have also recorded statements from several parents who admitted to being deceived by the accused. The police are conducting a further investigation to uncover if more individuals were involved in the racket. This incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting the vulnerabilities in the school admission process that fraudsters seek to exploit.
