LUCKNOW: A Rs 50,000 reward-wanted accused facing a string of cheating and property-related cases in Lucknow was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) from Thane, Maharashtra, after allegedly fleeing the city and hiding there for months.The accused, Rahul Srivastava, wanted in a case registered at Nigohan police station under Sections 316(5) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), was arrested from Aangan Evlon in Kankia, Mira Road East, on Wednesday afternoon, the STF said.Acting on information from an informer, the STF team located Srivastava in Thane and arrested him. An Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving licence and Rs 3,050 cash were recovered from him, according to the STF.
From agent to property business
Additional SP, STF, Vishal Vikram Singh, said that during questioning, Srivastava reportedly told the STF that he had earlier worked as an agent for Speak Asia in Varanasi and later as a broker for Raj Hightech, a company dealing in plastic products.The STF said he claimed to have made around Rs 1 crore through fraud while working with Speak Asia.After moving to Lucknow, he worked with Raj Hightech for around a year before launching his own company and becoming its director.According to the STF, Srivastava allegedly bought land from farmers, prepared layouts and offered plots to customers after collecting money, but failed to hand over possession.Multiple complaints and FIRs were subsequently registered against him at different police stations in Lucknow, the agency said.With cases mounting, Srivastava allegedly left Lucknow and moved to Maharashtra, where he had been staying in Thane and working in the property business with his friend Umesh Yadav.
32 cases on criminal record
The STF has listed 32 cases against Srivastava, registered at police stations including Hazratganj, Chinhat, Sushant Golf City, Ashiyana, Nigohan and Mohanlalganj.A majority of the cases involve allegations of cheating and criminal breach of trust under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC. His criminal history also includes cases involving alleged forgery, criminal intimidation and offences registered under the BNS.The STF said it was initiating proceedings to obtain his transit remand from the competent court. Further action will be taken by the investigating officer after his production before the concerned court.
