Bijnor: A major fraud involving the illegal resale of tractors has come to light in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district, raising serious concerns over monitoring mechanisms within finance companies and the banking system. The case involves an organised gang that allegedly purchased tractors through loans and resold them multiple times using forged documents. During the investigation, authorities recovered seven tractors worth approximately ₹53 lakh, while three accused, including the alleged mastermind, remain absconding.
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Fraud Built on Loan-Funded Purchases and Forged Vehicle Papers
According to preliminary findings, the accused would first procure tractors by availing loans from different finance companies. After the purchase, they allegedly tampered with the identity of the vehicles by changing number plates and manipulating chassis numbers. Fake documents were then created to give the tractors a new identity, enabling the gang to resell the same vehicles at multiple locations.
Investigators revealed that in this entire process, no ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) was obtained from the original finance companies. Buyers were also kept unaware of the actual financial status of the vehicles, making them unsuspecting participants in the fraudulent chain. This allowed the accused to generate significant profits by repeatedly selling the same tractor.
Officials said the gang’s primary objective was to maximise returns by reselling a single tractor multiple times before the fraud could be detected. By the time finance companies realised the irregularities, the vehicles had already changed hands several times, making it extremely difficult to trace them or recover pending loan instalments. As a result, financial institutions suffered substantial losses, and loan recovery became nearly impossible.
Complaints by Finance Firms Led Police to Organised Racket
The fraud came to light on April 27, 2026, when several finance companies filed complaints at a local police station, reporting that tractors financed by them had gone missing. They stated that there was no trace of the vehicles, and their records showed discrepancies. Based on these complaints, a case was registered under relevant sections of the law, and an investigation was launched, which uncovered the organised nature of the racket.
During the probe, the main accused was identified as Javed, along with his associates Sanjeev Kumar and Bhupendra Singh. All three are residents of Bijnor district and are currently on the run. Investigators also found that Javed had previously been accused in a similar tractor fraud case in another district, suggesting a pattern of repeated involvement in such activities.
Authorities have formed two special teams to track down the accused. Raids are being conducted at suspected hideouts, and technical surveillance, along with local intelligence inputs, is being used to locate them. Officials expressed confidence that arrests will be made soon and further legal action will follow.
Recovered Tractors Under Verification as Wider Network Faces Scrutiny
Meanwhile, the recovered tractors are being verified to identify their original owners and linked financial records. Investigators are also analysing transaction trails and documentation to map the entire network involved in the scam. There is a possibility that more individuals may be connected to the operation, and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend them.
Experts point out that such frauds typically involve forged documentation, identity tampering of vehicles, and layered transactions, which help conceal the crime for extended periods. These gangs often target rural and semi-urban areas, where verification systems may not be as stringent, making it easier to exploit loopholes.
