Indore: Police in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, have registered a fraud case against a former store manager of an ASICS showroom over an alleged inventory misappropriation of nearly ₹10 lakh. Investigators allege that the accused sold shoes, apparel and other merchandise without issuing official bills and directed customers to transfer payments to his personal bank account instead of the company’s authorised account. The alleged irregularities came to light after the employee resigned and a subsequent stock audit revealed merchandise worth lakhs of rupees missing. Police are now examining financial transactions, digital records and sales documents as part of the investigation.
According to police, the case relates to the ASICS showroom located at C-21 Mall under the Vijay Nagar police station limits in Indore. Based on a complaint filed by company manager Sitlesh Yadav, a case has been registered against former store manager Roshan Kumar Yadav under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The accused is a native of Bihar and was appointed as the store manager in June 2024.
The complaint states that Roshan Kumar Yadav left his job on September 13, 2025, after which his mobile phone was switched off. His sudden disappearance raised suspicions regarding discrepancies in the showroom’s sales and inventory records, prompting the company to conduct a detailed stock audit and inventory verification.
The audit reportedly found 65 pairs of shoes, 40 apparel items and 38 accessories missing from the showroom’s inventory. According to the company, the total value of the missing merchandise is approximately ₹9.93 lakh. Preliminary findings suggest that the products may have been sold without official invoices and that the proceeds were allegedly diverted to the accused’s personal bank account instead of being deposited into the company’s account.
Police also questioned showroom employees, including Shweta, Rahul, Durgesh, Pankaj and Hemant, during the investigation. They allegedly told investigators that on several occasions the accused instructed customers to transfer payments directly to his personal bank account rather than using the company’s authorised payment channels. Investigators are now identifying all such transactions, reviewing digital payment records and tracing the affected customers to determine the actual financial loss.
As part of the probe, police are analysing the showroom’s sales records, stock registers, bank statements, digital payment data, CCTV footage and other electronic evidence. The objective is to establish how long the alleged irregularities continued, the total financial impact and whether any other employee or external individual was involved in the suspected fraud.
Following the registration of the case, Vijay Nagar Police intensified efforts to trace the accused. According to officials, a special police team has been sent to Bihar, where the accused is believed to have possible hideouts. Investigators said his interrogation would help determine how the allegedly misappropriated money was utilised and whether he may have been involved in similar incidents elsewhere.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that robust internal controls, periodic stock audits, monitoring of digital payment systems and regular verification of employees’ financial activities are essential to prevent such fraud in the corporate and retail sectors. He also advised customers to always obtain an official invoice and ensure that payments are made only to the company’s authorised bank account or approved digital payment channels.
Police clarified that the investigation is ongoing and that the allegations are based on the complaint and evidence collected so far. The final determination of criminal liability will depend on the outcome of the investigation and subsequent judicial proceedings. Investigators added that additional charges or more accused could be brought into the case if further evidence emerges.
