Agra | A massive fraud racket that allegedly duped thousands of women in the name of empowerment schemes and financial assistance has been busted by police in Uttar Pradesh. The alleged mastermind of the operation, Arun Kumar Agnihotri alias Pankaj Agnihotri, has been arrested from Lucknow in connection with a ₹2.72 crore cheating case involving nearly 32,000 women across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Police officials said the accused had been absconding for several years and carried a reward of ₹25,000 on his arrest. Investigators believe the accused, along with his associates, created a sophisticated network that targeted financially vulnerable women by promising skill training, employment opportunities and monthly government-linked assistance under the guise of a welfare initiative.
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According to investigators, Arun Agnihotri, a resident of Shahjahanpur district, allegedly operated the scheme through an organization called “Sarthak Welfare Society.” The institution reportedly claimed to be registered with NITI Aayog, a claim police now suspect was used primarily to gain public trust and attract large numbers of women into the network.
The case first surfaced in 2020 when several women, including Agra resident Meena Pathak, filed complaints alleging that they had been misled into depositing money after being promised long-term financial support and self-employment opportunities.
Police said the accused and his associates claimed that women enrolling in the program would receive training in stitching, embroidery, knitting and other household-based vocational skills. Participants were allegedly assured that after completion of the training program, they would receive lifelong monthly financial assistance of ₹5,000 under a so-called women empowerment scheme.
Investigators said the scheme was designed like a multi-level marketing or chain-referral system. Women who joined the program were allegedly instructed to bring in 20 to 25 additional participants. Each participant was required to deposit ₹740 as an application and registration fee.
The accused allegedly promised that every enrolled trainee would receive a ₹2,000 cheque and a training kit after three months. Believing the claims to be genuine, many women encouraged relatives, neighbours and acquaintances to join the program, allowing the network to spread rapidly across several districts.
Police estimates suggest that nearly 1,650 women from Agra district alone became victims of the alleged scam. Investigators now suspect that the fraud may have extended far beyond the currently identified victims, with the possibility of additional financial irregularities still under examination.
According to police, the entire operation collapsed suddenly in September 2020 when the office of the organization was abruptly shut down and the accused disappeared. It was only afterward that many victims realized they had been cheated.
Authorities had previously arrested several other accused linked to the case. One accused was arrested in 2020, another in 2023, and a third in 2025. However, the alleged mastermind, Arun Agnihotri, had remained elusive until recently.
Police said a special team received intelligence inputs regarding his movement in Lucknow’s Madhav Greens Colony area. Officers reportedly tracked his vehicle before taking him into custody. Investigators are now examining his financial transactions, bank accounts, digital records and links with other individuals associated with the operation.
Officials further revealed that the accused is already facing multiple criminal cases in different districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, including Indore. Police records indicate that at least 14 cases are registered against him in connection with alleged financial fraud and cheating activities.
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said fraudsters are increasingly misusing the names of government welfare schemes and social empowerment programs to target vulnerable sections of society. He advised people to independently verify the legal status and official recognition of any organization before depositing money or joining such schemes.
Police officials said further investigation is underway and additional arrests may follow as authorities continue tracing the financial and operational network linked to the alleged fraud racket.
