Itanagar: A suspected fraud case involving a government payment linked to a Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) road project has come to light in Arunachal Pradesh, with police arresting three people for allegedly attempting to cheat a contractor of ₹2.40 crore. The accused have been identified as Toluk Lombi, Dubi Ete and Rajesh Kumar Singh. Police said the three allegedly assured the contractor that they could facilitate the release of his long-pending government payment of more than ₹17 crore in return for ₹2.40 crore.
According to police, a case was registered at Naharlagun police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The investigation indicates that the accused approached the contractor and claimed that his government payment had remained pending for a long time but could be cleared through influential contacts. The alleged demand for ₹2.40 crore was made on the basis of this assurance.
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Claim of High-Level Government Connections
During the alleged fraud, the accused reportedly tried to convince the contractor that Rajesh Kumar Singh had high-level contacts in the Central government and could use his influence to facilitate the release of the pending payment.
The contractor was subsequently allegedly handed a letter claiming that the outstanding payment had been cleared. However, when he approached the office of the Chief Engineer of the Rural Works Department (RWD) to verify the document, officials informed him that the letter was not genuine.
Following the discovery of the alleged forged document, the matter was reported to the police and an investigation was initiated. Investigators are now examining the circumstances in which the letter was prepared and how it was presented to the contractor as an official clearance.
Court Rejects Plea to Quash FIR
As the investigation progressed, accused Rajesh Kumar Singh approached the court seeking cancellation of the FIR. The court rejected his plea on August 13, allowing the police investigation to proceed.
Police subsequently travelled to Guwahati and arrested Singh on August 25. He was later remanded to six days of police custody.
With all three accused now under arrest, investigators are examining the specific role allegedly played by each of them in approaching the contractor, demanding money and using the purported clearance letter.
Police are also investigating whether the accused had previously approached other contractors or individuals with similar claims of being able to secure government payments or approvals through influential contacts. Investigators are examining the alleged communications between the accused, relevant documents and any financial transactions connected with the case.
Contractors Advised to Verify Claims
Police have cautioned contractors and members of the public against individuals who claim to have high-level government connections and demand money in exchange for getting official payments, tenders or administrative work cleared.
Authorities have advised people to verify such claims directly with the concerned government department rather than relying on assurances made by private individuals. Any letter, approval or payment-clearance document should also be independently verified through official channels before any action is taken.
The investigation is currently focused on establishing the complete sequence of events, examining the alleged financial dealings and determining whether the three accused acted independently or were part of a larger network.
Police said further investigation will establish how the alleged fraud was planned, whether other people were involved and the precise role of each accused in the attempted ₹2.40 crore fraud.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
