A major financial fraud case linked to alleged railway catering contracts has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh, where four individuals have been accused of cheating a businessman out of more than ₹2.12 crore by promising lucrative railway tenders and high returns. Police have registered a criminal case following allegations that the accused initially gained the victim’s trust, collected huge investments over several months, partially returned some funds, and later resorted to threats and abusive behaviour when repayment of the remaining amount was demanded.
How the Scheme Unfolded
The case is connected to Parvez Hussain, a resident of Sagar Housing Complex in the Quarsi police station area of Aligarh. According to the complaint, he first met Delhi resident Ishrat Jameel during a social event held at a lodge in Aligarh. Over time, Ishrat Jameel, his wife Khushnuma, and Sarfaraz Ali from Etawah allegedly developed close relations with the complainant and frequently visited his residence.
The complainant has alleged that during these meetings, the accused projected themselves as influential contractors associated with railway catering and hospitality services. They allegedly claimed to have strong connections within the railway system and assured him that substantial profits could be earned through investments in railway catering and food-service tenders.
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According to the FIR, the accused gradually persuaded Parvez Hussain to transfer large sums of money into multiple bank accounts. The complaint states that ₹22 lakh was allegedly transferred on August 10, 2022, followed by ₹20 lakh on September 19, 2022, ₹50 lakh on November 22, 2022, ₹18.75 lakh on February 10, 2023, ₹20 lakh on September 17, 2023, and ₹31.36 lakh on July 26. Altogether, the complainant alleges that more than ₹2.12 crore was handed over to the accused under the promise of securing railway contracts.
The accused later reportedly returned ₹67.84 lakh to the complainant, but the remaining amount—more than ₹1.44 crore—was allegedly withheld. According to the complaint, the accused repeatedly sought additional time for repayment and assured that the full amount would be returned within 11 months. However, after the deadline expired, no further repayment was allegedly made.
Partial Refunds, Then Pressure
The complainant has further alleged that when he began demanding the remaining money, the accused started threatening him and using abusive language. He also claimed that the accused may have targeted other individuals using similar tactics involving promises of government tenders and railway-related contracts.
The name of Imran, a relative of Ishrat Jameel, has also surfaced during the investigation. He has allegedly been linked to similar activities involving collection of money from people on the pretext of arranging government contracts and investment opportunities. Investigators are now examining whether the accused were part of a larger organised financial fraud network operating under the guise of railway tenders and public-sector contracts.
Investigation and Expert View
Sources associated with the investigation said police are currently examining bank transactions, digital communications and financial records linked to the accused. Authorities are also trying to determine whether the suspects falsely claimed connections with railway officials or misused references to actual railway tender processes to gain credibility.
A cyber analyst associated with Future Crime Research Foundation stated that frauds involving government tenders and high-value contracts often rely on fake networking, fabricated influence and trust-building through personal relationships. In many such cases, fraudsters exploit social familiarity and digital financial transactions to convince victims to invest substantial amounts.
Acting on the directions of the SSP, Quarsi police have registered a case against four accused under sections related to cheating, criminal breach of trust and intimidation. Investigators are now tracing banking trails, call records and electronic evidence to uncover the full extent of the alleged fraud network and identify whether more victims may be involved.
