Shahjahanpur. Police have arrested a man accused of cheating an elderly woman of around ₹5 lakh from her bank account on the pretext of helping her obtain widow pension. The accused allegedly gained the woman’s trust by promising to get her pension approved and took possession of her Aadhaar card, PAN card and SIM card. He allegedly then obtained OTPs received on her mobile number and used them to withdraw money from her bank account in several transactions. When the woman discovered that money had been withdrawn and demanded its return, the accused allegedly abused her and threatened to kill her son.
The case is from the R.C. Mission police station area. According to police, the victim, Meera Devi, had received around ₹5 lakh from a private liquor factory after her husband, who worked there, died. The factory later shut down. The accused, identified as Naman, had also worked at the same factory and became unemployed after it closed.
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Police said Naman was aware that around ₹5 lakh was deposited in Meera Devi’s bank account. He allegedly took advantage of this information and approached the woman, assuring her that he would help her obtain widow pension. On the pretext of completing the formalities for the government scheme, he allegedly began collecting her personal documents.
The accused allegedly took Meera Devi’s Aadhaar card and PAN card along with her SIM card. He also allegedly obtained the OTPs sent to the mobile number linked to her bank account. Police said the accused allegedly used these details to access the account and started withdrawing money. The amount was allegedly taken out gradually through multiple transactions until around ₹5 lakh had been withdrawn.
After learning that money had been taken from her bank account, the woman allegedly confronted Naman and demanded that he return the money. Instead, he allegedly abused her. He is also accused of threatening her son with death over the phone. Following this, the victim lodged a complaint at the R.C. Mission police station on July 15.
Police registered a case and began an investigation. Investigators examined the transactions from the woman’s bank account, the mobile number involved and other available evidence. Police said sufficient evidence was found against the accused during the investigation, following which efforts were made to trace him.
At around 11 a.m. on Sunday, police received information about the accused’s whereabouts through an informant. Acting on the information, a police team arrested Naman. After questioning and completing the necessary legal formalities, he was sent to jail.
Investigators are now examining the complete trail of the money withdrawn from the woman’s account. They are also trying to determine whether the money was transferred to other bank accounts or withdrawn through other methods. The manner in which the accused allegedly used the woman’s documents and SIM card is also being examined.
Police are further investigating whether anyone else was involved in the alleged fraud. Bank transaction records and mobile-related evidence are expected to help establish the complete sequence of events. The allegations that the accused obtained the woman’s documents and OTPs on the promise of securing widow pension and subsequently withdrew around ₹5 lakh will be subject to the evidence gathered during the investigation.
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.
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