Phagwara. A retired Punjab Police inspector has alleged that he was duped of ₹76.81 lakh on the pretext of arranging a plot in an upscale area of Delhi. Phillaur police have registered a case against eight people, including two women, following an inquiry into the complaint. The complainant, Amarjit Singh Malhi, alleged that the accused took money from him at different times after promising to arrange a 3,200-square-yard plot but later neither completed the deal nor returned his money. He also alleged that he was threatened when he demanded a refund.
According to Malhi, the matter dates back to 2024. He said his maternal uncle’s son and nine of his associates approached him with a proposal involving a large property in Delhi. The accused allegedly told him that the proposed plot was worth several crores of rupees. They allegedly convinced him that the deal could be completed and asked him to make payments at different stages. Malhi said he was repeatedly called to Delhi in connection with the proposed property transaction and made around 66 trips.
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Malhi said he arranged the money from several sources. Around ₹54 lakh had been received by him at the time of his retirement, while he also raised around ₹24 lakh by selling his house in village Jahangirwala. He said some additional funds were borrowed from a private finance company. According to his complaint, a total of ₹76.81 lakh was eventually paid to the accused from these different sources.
The complainant alleged that after receiving the money, the accused neither completed the promised property transaction nor returned the amount. Instead, he claimed, they allegedly began threatening him when he sought his money back. Malhi has requested the police to investigate the matter, recover his money and take action against those responsible.
The retired police officer also alleged that he is suffering from cancer and that the alleged fraud pushed his family into severe financial difficulties. He said his mother is also suffering from cancer and required around ₹5 lakh for treatment. According to him, the financial strain caused by the alleged fraud left him unable to arrange the required treatment expenses.
Malhi also levelled allegations against a police official posted in Ludhiana, claiming that the officer had allegedly been assigned to keep a watch on him. He said he had submitted a complaint to the police regarding the alleged surveillance. However, the officer denied the allegations and said he is a resident of Phillaur and frequently visits the area.
Following an inquiry into Malhi’s complaint, Phillaur police registered a case against eight people. They have been identified as Bhupinder Singh of Moti Nagar, New Delhi; Gurcharan Singh of Harchandpura, Samana; Manjit Singh Aulakh of New Delhi; Man Singh of Haryana; Rajni of Panipat; Amarjit Kaur of village Lohara, Ludhiana; Taranpal Singh alias Rimpi; and Mandeep Singh of Ajit Nagar, Jalandhar.
Police are now investigating the allegations and examining the financial transactions involved in the case. Investigators are looking into how and under what circumstances the money was allegedly collected from the complainant, what documents were presented in connection with the proposed property deal and where the money went after the payments were made.
The police are also examining communications between the complainant and the accused, along with other evidence related to the proposed property transaction. Further action will depend on the findings of 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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