Posing as Tourists and Showing Fake Online Payment Messages, Accused Took Cash from Victims; Under the Able Leadership of SP Tripti Bhatt, GRP Haridwar Achieved a Remarkable Success
NEWS / THE POLICE TODAY
Haridwar GRP …Under the disciplined leadership of SP Tripti Bhatt, GRP Haridwar police continues to deliver significant successes. Within just 24 hours, GRP Haridwar nabbed fraudsters from Maharashtra and Assam, sending three of them to jail for duping people by showing fake online payment messages and taking cash. The accused traveled in AC coaches, kept women with them to avoid suspicion, and had previously committed similar crimes in Laksar. The main accused and one woman first met in Bengaluru after missing a train, which turned into a close friendship…
The GRP Haridwar police, under the guidance of SP Tripti Bhatt, have once again exposed a new kind of fraud. Three accused—one man and two women—who tricked people at railway stations by showing fake online transaction messages and collecting cash, have been arrested and sent to jail.
The Incident
On 3rd September 2025, complainant Alok Mishra, a vendor from Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, was settling accounts with his manager at the platform when the main accused, Arun Soni, accompanied by two women, approached him claiming to be tourists going to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. They requested ₹20,000 in cash, promising to return ₹20,500 instantly through online transfer. The accused even showed an Aadhaar card and a fake online payment message on his phone.
Since the accused appeared genuine—traveling in AC coaches with women, decent luggage, and a convincing manner of speaking—the complainant trusted them and handed over the cash. Later, when the money didn’t reach his wife’s account, Arun Soni made excuses and disappeared with the cash.
The accused were clever enough never to conduct actual online transactions to avoid being traced. Instead, they used fake messages and IDs to cheat unsuspecting victims.
Targets of the Fraud
The mastermind Arun Anoop Soni mainly targeted vendors, small traders, and individuals with little knowledge about online banking or mobile transaction alerts.
Luxury Lifestyle
The gang was fond of luxury living. They wore branded clothes, carried expensive suitcases, and always traveled in AC coaches so that nobody suspected them.
“Bunty and Babli”-Style Friendship
Arun Soni (resident of Nagpur, Maharashtra) and Varsha (resident of Golaghat, Assam) first met in Bengaluru after missing a train to Goa. Their acquaintance quickly turned into a deep friendship. Later, they traveled together to Goa and several other parts of India. Varsha, living a carefree lifestyle, also brought her cousin Arti Bora from Assam into the group.
Previous Crime in Laksar
Before Haridwar, the gang had also committed a similar fraud in Laksar, duping a shopkeeper of about ₹2,500. A case is already registered against them in GRP Laksar.
Arrest in Roorkee
After the Haridwar incident, the gang moved towards Roorkee in search of their next victim. GRP Haridwar tracked and arrested them at Roorkee railway station. Both cases have seen 100% recovery of the defrauded cash.
During interrogation, Arun confessed that he had once been cheated in a similar way, after which he learned the tricks of sending fake transaction messages with the help of friends and Google.
Police Commendation
SP Tripti Bhatt praised the GRP Haridwar and the entire police team for arresting the accused within 24 hours and ensuring 100% recovery of the looted money. Locals have also expressed relief and satisfaction at the fraudsters being put behind bars.
Accused Details
Arun Soni, son of Anoop Soni, resident of Nagpur, Maharashtra (B.Com 1st year student)
Bharti Bora, resident of Golaghat, Assam (12th pass),Varsha, resident of Golaghat, Assam (12th pass)
Police Teams Involved
GRP Haridwar: Inspector-in-Charge Bipin Chandra Pathak, SI Pramod Kumar, HC Shyam Das, Constables Jahul Hasan, Mohit Kumar, Lalit, Prithvi Singh, Women Constables Aanchal & Suman Lodhi.
GRP Laksar/Roorkee: SI Rachna (SHO Laksar), SI Preeti Saini, ASI Jagat Singh, Constables Paraminder Singh, Rajiv Kumar, Amit, Sanjay, Jitendra Panchal, Women Constables Mamta, Sharmila & Saryu.
SOG GRP: Inspector Kamal Koranga (In-charge), HC Karunesh Kumar, Constable Manoj.