As the Crime Branch intensifies its investigation into the Rs 155 crore scam of fraudulent billing and on-line gaming racket, several accused have started fleeing the city to evade arrest. Notably, businessman Anshul Mishra (40), a key suspect in the case, has reportedly fled to Europe following simultaneous raids conducted by the Crime Branch on the premises of the accused persons. Mishra, a resident of Zingabai Takli, Mankapur, was allegedly operating “Balaji Enterprises”, a front for the scam that handled a large portion of the fraudulent transactions. The Crime Branch revealed that there were large financial exchanges between Mishra and another accused, Santosh alias Bunty Rampal Shahu.

 

Acting on this lead, police raided Mishra’s office on Saturday and found it deserted. During the raid, officials seized a number of incriminating items including bogus bills, transaction records and fake company seals. Investigators believe that Mishra fled the country soon after learning that police were preparing to register a case against Bunty Shahu and his network. So far, the police have arrested five accused in connection with the scam - Santosh alias Bunty Rampal Shahu (52); Jayesh Rampal Shahu (36), both residents of Kapil Heights, Imambada; Brijkishore Ramvilas Maniyar (59) of Shankar Nagar; Rishi Hitesh Lakhani (21) of Shastri Nagar; Anand Vinod Harde (33) of Surya Nagar, Kalamna. In addition to Mishra, three other prime accused - Riyaz Ali alias Mamu from Mominpura, Govind Tanna, and Anuj Agrawal from Wardhaman Nagar - have also fled Nagpur and are currently absconding.

 

The Crime Branch has started working on a plan to notify the Immigration Department, on Monday, regarding Anshul Mishra and other absconding accused, in a bid to initiate extradition procedures and curb further escape attempts. The Crime Branch officials stated that more arrests are likely in the case during further investigation. The scam started when the police received an information that two shell companies - Kshitij Enterprises and Awadh Enterprises- were found to be central to the illegal operation. Kshitij Enterprises is believed to have facilitated dubious transactions for as many as 113 fake companies, while Awadh Enterprises was linked to 57 such entities. The money routed through these accounts was allegedly siphoned off and reintegrated through hawala channels, suggesting the involvement of a broader, well-coordinated financial syndicate.