Ex-Army Deserter Arrested for Defrauding 150 Defence Personnel in Multi-Crore Scam
In a significant development, police in Mohanlalganj have apprehended Madan Ram, a former Army deserter and the joint director of HK Infravision Pvt Ltd, for his involvement in a massive real estate fraud. The scam, which targeted over 150 individuals including Army and paramilitary personnel as well as civilians, is valued in the multi-crore range.
Authorities captured the suspect in his native village located in Ballia district. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rajneesh Kumar reported that the fraudulent activities were focused on fake plot allocations in various HK Infravision projects, notably the "Kanha Upvan Valley" in Lucknow.
The victims were lured with attractive brochures and false promises of premium land, only to later find out that the properties were either non-existent, had legal disputes, or were inaccessible. The scheme specifically targeted active defence personnel due to their limited ability to investigate property issues while serving.
Investigations have uncovered that Madan Ram deserted the Indian Army 15 years ago. Subsequently, he collaborated with co-directors Pramod Upadhyay and Vinod Upadhyay, who allegedly convinced him to join the company by offering lucrative profits and benefits. The group utilized counterfeit documents and fake registries to ensnare unsuspecting customers.
To date, police have filed 19 First Information Reports (FIRs) related to the case. They have also frozen over ₹15 lakh spread across 19 bank accounts associated with the accused and seized four luxury vehicles.
Madan Ram is facing multiple charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 409 for criminal breach of trust, Section 420 for cheating, and Section 120B for criminal conspiracy. The investigation continues, with further arrests anticipated as authorities explore the extent of the scam network.
