Ballia | Uttar Pradesh | Concern has grown among local authorities and consumers after a fraud linked to the electricity bill relief scheme came to light. It is alleged that Common Service Center (CSC) operator Deepak Rao cheated a consumer by taking ₹15,000 under the pretext of bill payment and handed over a fake receipt. Investigation revealed that only ₹2,000 was actually deposited into the government account, while the remaining amount was allegedly misappropriated.
The matter surfaced when consumer Lallan Rajbhar visited the electricity substation in the Salempur power sub-station area and showed the payment receipt to officials. During document verification, a major discrepancy was found between the amount mentioned on the receipt and the actual payment entry recorded in departmental records. Following this, the victim filed a complaint at Nagara police station, based on which a case of cheating and forgery was registered against the accused.
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According to police, Deepak Rao was reportedly operating a CSC center that was said to be contracted with the electricity department. The center provided facilities for collecting payments under the electricity bill relief scheme. Taking advantage of this system, the accused allegedly collected ₹15,000 from the consumer but failed to deposit the full amount into the government account. It is also suspected that fake receipts were issued to hide the fraud for a long period.
Officials have started an internal departmental investigation after receiving the complaint. Authorities stated that consumers paying under the relief scheme must exercise extra caution. It is essential to verify the payment details on the online system after receiving the receipt, as several cases of fake receipts have been reported in similar incidents.
The administration has appealed to citizens to remain vigilant while making payments under government schemes. Officials advised that payment confirmation should be checked immediately after the transaction, and the entry should be verified on the official portal. People are also encouraged to use digital payment methods for most government transactions to reduce the risk of cash-related fraud.
Police officials informed that a case has been registered against the accused under relevant legal provisions, and teams have been deployed to arrest him. Investigators are also checking whether the accused was involved in similar frauds earlier. Efforts are underway to identify any other possible victims connected to this case.
Following the incident, consumers who rely on CSC centers for electricity bill payments or other government services have expressed concern about their safety. Experts said that despite the expansion of digital payment systems, incidents of fake receipts and offline fraud continue to occur, making public awareness extremely important.
Authorities have advised citizens to verify official identity credentials before making any payment at service centers and to obtain system-generated receipts only. People are also urged to report any suspicious activity immediately to the concerned department. Police stated that the search for the accused is ongoing, and his arrest is expected soon.
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.
