Impersonator Targets Vulnerable Families in Elaborate Jail Scam
In a shocking case of exploitation, a 48-year-old man from Ahmedabad has been arrested for allegedly impersonating a Surat Central Jail officer and demanding money from family members of inmates under false pretenses. The accused, identified as Rajesh Narendra Trivedi, targeted vulnerable families who already had loved ones behind bars.
The Modus Operandi Revealed
According to police investigations, Trivedi employed a sophisticated method to identify and target his victims. He first posed as a lawyer to collect contact information of family members of specific inmates - Jay Dangar, Paresh Kachhadiya, and Smit Dholakia. These three individuals had been recently arrested by Surat police in connection with a Rs. 10 crore ransom demand from a builder.
Once he obtained the phone numbers, Trivedi would call the family members while identifying himself as the jailor of Surat Central Jail. He demanded Rs. 15,000 from each family claiming the money was required for providing essential facilities such as tiffin services and mattresses to the inmates.
Multiple Complaints and Arrest Timeline
The scam came to light when one of the targeted family members filed an official complaint with Surat police. The investigation gained momentum when Mazhar Saiyed, a restaurant owner and resident of Zampa Bazaar, came forward with another complaint on Wednesday.
Saiyed revealed that his brother-in-law was currently lodged in Surat Central Jail. On November 16, he received a call from someone identifying himself as Superintendent of Surat Central Jail 'Yusuf Malek'. The imposter claimed that tiffin and other facilities had been provided to the inmate and demanded immediate payment of Rs. 9,000 via Google Pay.
Unlike other victims, Saiyed decided to personally visit Surat Central Jail the following day where he discovered there was no officer by the name of Yusuf Malek working at the facility. This verification led to the filing of the formal complaint that eventually helped police track down the perpetrator.
Police Action and Criminal History
The Ahmedabad City Police arrested Trivedi, a resident of Isanpur area in Ahmedabad and native of Surendranagar district, on Monday, November 18. He was handed over to Surat police on Tuesday night for further investigation into the case.
On Wednesday, November 20, Trivedi was produced before the Surat district court which granted police remand for three days to facilitate deeper investigation into the scam. Sachin police inspector P N Vaghela confirmed that the accused had a previous criminal record, having been arrested earlier by Ahmedabad police for cheating people while posing as a government official.
The case highlights the vulnerability of families with members in judicial custody and serves as a warning to verify any financial demands allegedly coming from jail authorities through proper channels before making payments.
