In a shocking case of financial fraud, a complaint has been lodged at Gomtinagar police station in Lucknow against a former HDFC Bank manager and three others. The fraud involves an amount of ₹19 lakh and was reported by Tejpal, a retired army officer and businessman from Gurugram, Haryana. According to the complaint, the fraudsters first gained Tejpal’s trust under the pretense of helping him and later tricked him by promising a government tender. Inspector Rajesh Tripathi, who is handling the case, stated that the investigation is currently underway.
How the Fraud Unfolded
Tejpal runs a company named Sulekha Enterprises, which provides manpower and security services. A few years ago, Vivek Sharma, who worked in Tejpal’s office repairing CCTV cameras and computers, introduced him to a man named Manoj Singh. Vivek claimed that Manoj was the owner of Apoorna Manav Seva Sansthan and that Manoj’s wife was critically ill, requiring urgent medical treatment costing ₹9 lakh. Trusting Vivek and believing the story, Tejpal handed over the money.
In return, Manoj gave Tejpal four post-dated cheques. However, when Tejpal tried to deposit these cheques, they all bounced due to insufficient funds.
A Bigger Scam Emerges
When Tejpal confronted Manoj about the bounced cheques, Manoj and Vivek arranged a meeting with Varun Srivastava, a former HDFC Bank manager, and Rahul Sinha, the branch head of HDFC Bank’s Vibhutikhand branch. During the meeting, the two bank officials assured Tejpal that they would help him secure tenders from two companies—Shritran India Ltd. and Aptron Ltd.—which, according to them, were maintaining accounts in the bank branch.
Varun Srivastava further promised Tejpal that his company, Sulekha Enterprises, would be awarded a tender to provide manpower and security services to these firms. Trusting their word, Tejpal paid an additional ₹10 lakh. However, after taking the money, none of the promised tenders materialized.
Police Investigation Underway
Realizing that he had been duped, Tejpal filed a complaint against all the accused. The police have registered a case of fraud and are investigating the matter to gather more evidence and bring the culprits to justice. Inspector Rajesh Tripathi assured that all angles are being thoroughly examined, and action will be taken based on the findings.
This incident highlights the importance of being cautious when it comes to financial dealings. Fraudsters often use emotional manipulation and false promises to deceive victims. It serves as a reminder to double-check any claims and seek proper documentation before trusting large sums of money to anyone.
