A construction-linked fraud case spanning Delhi, Mumbai, and Nagpur has led to the arrest of a contractor accused of duping firms of ₹5 crore on the promise of securing major infrastructure projects.
Allegations of Contract Fraud Across Multiple Cities
Police have arrested Ajay Kumar Sharma, a Delhi-based contractor, in connection with an alleged ₹5 crore fraud involving promises of securing large-scale infrastructure contracts. The case, registered by Sitabuldi Police in Nagpur, names Sharma along with Vijay Kumar Sharma and an associate, Nitin Tyagi, as accused.
According to investigators, the accused are linked to Infracion Construction Pvt. Ltd., and are alleged to have misrepresented their capacity to secure government-linked road construction projects. Authorities said the complaint was filed on February 4 by Nitesh Vinay Kumar Rankela, a resident of Shivaji Nagar, who is an authorized signatory of a Mumbai-based infrastructure company.
The case has drawn attention due to its cross-state dimensions, with alleged activities and transactions spanning Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
FutureCrime Summit 2026 Calls for Speakers From Government, Industry and Academia
Promise of Projects and Advance Payment
Investigators said the accused approached representatives of Divijay and Sarla Project Company with assurances of facilitating participation in a major road construction project in Maharashtra. The project in question was described as the Bhandara-Gadchiroli Access Controlled Expressway (Package BC-03), which the accused allegedly claimed had been awarded to IRCON International Limited.
Officials said that, based on these assurances, the company transferred ₹5 crore as an advance payment on November 19, 2024. The funds were reportedly handed over in anticipation of subcontracting opportunities tied to the infrastructure project. However, according to the complaint, no work was subsequently allocated, nor was the advance amount returned.
Arrest, Custody, and Expanding Investigation
Ajay Kumar Sharma was initially apprehended by Mumbai’s Anti-Extortion Cell in connection with a separate ₹3 crore fraud case registered in Kandivali. Following this, Nagpur police obtained a production warrant, brought him to the city, and presented him before a local court.
The court has remanded Sharma to police custody until March 23. Officials indicated that further arrests may follow, with Vijay Kumar Sharma and Nitin Tyagi also under investigation.
Senior police officials, including Deputy Commissioner of Police Nityanand Jha, have directed investigating officers to coordinate across jurisdictions, reflecting the multi-city nature of the alleged fraud.
Meetings, Representations, and Claims of Legitimacy
According to police accounts, initial contact between the complainant and the accused was facilitated in September 2024 through an intermediary identified as Pawan Malhotra. A meeting was subsequently held in Delhi, where Sharma allegedly introduced himself as a director of Infracion Construction Pvt. Ltd.
Investigators said Sharma presented himself as having access to major infrastructure contracts and assured the complainant of securing road construction work in Maharashtra. These representations, authorities allege, were instrumental in convincing the company to proceed with the advance payment.
The complainant later told police that Sharma claimed the project had been awarded to IRCON and that subcontracting opportunities would be extended on a back-to-back basis. However, officials said no such arrangements materialized.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to examine financial transactions, communication records, and the broader network associated with the accused.
