Kanpur Woman Loses Rs 75 Lakh in Elaborate IAS Officer Scam
A woman from Kalyanpur in Kanpur has come forward with a shocking complaint. She accuses a fraudster of cheating her out of a massive sum of Rs 75 lakh in cash and jewellery. The man allegedly pretended he had been selected for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and promised to marry her.
Four Named in Police Complaint
The victim has filed a formal police complaint against four individuals. She identified them as Nitesh Pandey, Diwakar Mishra who also goes by the name Satyam, Jitesh Pandey, and Akanksha. Her complaint details a disturbing escalation after the financial fraud.
She alleges that the main accused, Nitesh Pandey, later threatened her physically. He reportedly stormed into her home brandishing a knife. The threats did not stop there. He also warned her that he would circulate her private photographs to defame her publicly.
How the Elaborate Scam Unfolded
The woman explained her connection to the accused. She had an old acquaintance with the family of Diwakar Mishra, a resident of Shuklaganj. Through Diwakar, she was introduced to Nitesh Pandey from Chakeri.
Nitesh Pandey initially presented himself as a bank field officer and befriended her. The situation took a turn when he sent her a message on WhatsApp. It contained a fake email, supposedly from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
This fabricated email claimed Nitesh had cleared the prestigious IAS examination. It stated he would soon become a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). Along with this news, he made a personal promise: he would marry her. He even mentioned a pending interview to make his story more believable.
The Financial Demands Begin
According to the complainant, Nitesh Pandey then started asking for money. He claimed he needed to pay lakhs of rupees to secure his IAS selection. His brother, Jitesh Pandey, and sister-in-law, Akanksha, allegedly supported this narrative.
When the woman expressed her concerns to their mutual contact, Diwakar Mishra, he reportedly encouraged her. He allegedly said that helping Nitesh would lead to a happy married life for them.
Trusting these promises, the woman began handing over money. She gave an initial amount of Rs 3.50 lakh to Nitesh in 2025. Soon after, he demanded an additional Rs 35 lakh. She managed to give him Rs 23 lakh from cash kept at her home.
Pressure and Further Extortion
Even after receiving Rs 26.50 lakh, Nitesh Pandey insisted it was insufficient. He pressured her, saying if the full amount was not paid, the money already "deposited" would be lost forever.
Fearing the loss of her investment and the promised future, the woman took drastic steps. She mortgaged her silver items to raise more funds. Later, she also handed over approximately 450 grams of her gold jewellery.
In total, she estimates she gave cash and jewellery worth around Rs 75 lakh to Nitesh Pandey. For a sense of security, he provided her with cheques, which later proved worthless.
The Final Betrayal and Threats
The fraud reached its peak when Nitesh sent another fake document via WhatsApp. This was an appointment letter claiming he had been posted as the District Magistrate of Kanpur. Following this, his communication became sporadic. He claimed he was away for training, but his changed behaviour made the woman suspicious.
Her worst fears were confirmed on October 14, 2024. Nitesh Pandey allegedly barged into her house in a rage. He was armed with a knife and issued violent threats. He threatened to frame her in false criminal cases and hurled abuses at her.
The final blow was a threat to her reputation. He warned that he would circulate her private photographs to defame her and ruin her social standing.
Police Response and Investigation
The Kalyanpur police have registered the complaint. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ashutosh Kumar has addressed the matter. He stated that appropriate legal action will be taken based on the findings of a thorough investigation.
This case highlights a sophisticated scam exploiting trust and aspirations. It serves as a stark warning about fraudsters using prestigious government positions as bait for elaborate cons.
