Surat Police Arrest Two Involved in Defrauding Banks with Fake Documents

Surat : The Surat police have successfully apprehended two individuals, Aamir-Ul-Haque from Assam and Prithvi Sagar Dhananjay from Bangalore, on charges related to defrauding HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank in Surat.

The accused employed online technology to generate counterfeit Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar Card, PAN card, and election cards, to perpetrate fraudulent activities resulting in financial losses amounting to Rs 92.57 lakhs.

The Umra police station received a complaint outlining the fraudulent activities conducted against HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank in Surat. Subsequently, the crime branch and economic offenses cell initiated an investigation, unveiling a significant scam.

The accused utilized online portals to create and vend fabricated identity documents, selling Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and election cards for sums ranging between Rs 15, 25, and 50. These false documents were utilized to present proofs of Indian citizenship, acquire GST numbers, engage in property transactions, and facilitate human trafficking.

The fraudulent practice extended beyond the national borders, involving the preparation of false documents for international travel. A complaint lodged at Umra police station highlighted the sanction of a Rs 92.57 lakh loan by HDFC Bank based on falsified documents. The subsequent investigation led the Surat police to the apprehension of the two accused, located in Assam and Bangalore.

Aamirul Haq Khan was identified as the individual responsible for the creation and sale of fake documents via the AHK web solutions portal. Additionally, the accused procured NSDL-EKYC software from Prithvi Sagar Dhananjay in Bangalore, enabling the easy addition of other websites through the service known as Reseller Web Hosting Alpha. This software facilitated the orchestration of the elaborate scam.

Ajay Tomar, Surat Police Commissioner, confirmed that details of the online fake document scam have been relayed to central agencies. These counterfeit documents were not only used for financial fraud but also for activities like human trafficking and international travel.

Tomar emphasized that central agencies are actively investigating the matter, considering it with utmost seriousness. To date, a total of 12 individuals have been apprehended in connection with the comprehensive scam. Both HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank were identified as victims of the fraudulent activities orchestrated by the accused.