Dehradun, Feb 3 (PTI) – A man from Rishikesh was allegedly assaulted and robbed of ₹5 lakh by seven individuals, including three policemen, during a fraudulent currency exchange deal, a senior police official confirmed on Monday.
According to Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh, the incident took place on Friday in the Premnagar area when the victim, Yashpal Singh Aswal, arrived to exchange US dollars for Indian rupees.
Aswal stated in his complaint, filed on Sunday, that he was approached by Kundan Negi from Chamoli, who claimed he knew people from Mori in Uttarkashi interested in converting USD 20,000 into Indian currency. The deal was fixed at approximately ₹8 lakh.
On January 31, Aswal arrived near the Balaji temple in Jhajra with ₹7.5 lakh, where he found four men along with Negi waiting for him. As they were discussing the transaction, two individuals, one in police uniform and another in plain clothes, intervened, claiming to be policemen.
Aswal alleged that they threatened him, forcibly took his bag containing money, and returned only ₹2.5 lakh. The accused also physically assaulted and verbally abused him before driving him away from the scene.
Following the complaint, the police launched an investigation, analyzing CCTV footage and tracking the suspects through surveillance. Seven individuals, including the three policemen, were arrested.
Authorities recovered ₹2.3 lakh and USD 500 from the accused. Two additional suspects involved in the crime have been identified, and efforts are underway to apprehend them, SSP Singh said.
The arrested individuals include:
According to Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh, the incident took place on Friday in the Premnagar area when the victim, Yashpal Singh Aswal, arrived to exchange US dollars for Indian rupees.
Aswal stated in his complaint, filed on Sunday, that he was approached by Kundan Negi from Chamoli, who claimed he knew people from Mori in Uttarkashi interested in converting USD 20,000 into Indian currency. The deal was fixed at approximately ₹8 lakh.
On January 31, Aswal arrived near the Balaji temple in Jhajra with ₹7.5 lakh, where he found four men along with Negi waiting for him. As they were discussing the transaction, two individuals, one in police uniform and another in plain clothes, intervened, claiming to be policemen.
Aswal alleged that they threatened him, forcibly took his bag containing money, and returned only ₹2.5 lakh. The accused also physically assaulted and verbally abused him before driving him away from the scene.
Following the complaint, the police launched an investigation, analyzing CCTV footage and tracking the suspects through surveillance. Seven individuals, including the three policemen, were arrested.
Authorities recovered ₹2.3 lakh and USD 500 from the accused. Two additional suspects involved in the crime have been identified, and efforts are underway to apprehend them, SSP Singh said.
The arrested individuals include:
- Iqrar (43) – Posted at Premnagar police station, Dehradun
- Abdul Rehman (34) – Posted at India Reserve Battalion (IRB) in Jhajra
- Salam (32) – Also posted at IRB in Jhajra
- Rajkumar (35)
- Rajesh Rawat (40)
- Kundan Singh Negi (45)
- Rajesh Kumar Chauhan (59) – A resident of Shimla