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A major case of fraud has surfaced in the state capital where a woman was allegedly cheated of ₹55 lakh after being lured under the pretext of correcting vastu defects. The accused first posed as a businessman, later promised a business partnership, and eventually trapped the victim by offering marriage. Following the complaint, Rajpur Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.
The accused has been identified as Lalit Mohan Pandey, a resident of Haldwani, who was operating a restaurant in the Rajpur Road area of Dehradun.
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Contact Established on Pretext of Vastu Consultation
According to the complaint filed by the victim, a resident of Gurugram, she works in interior designing and vastu consultancy. In May 2025, Lalit Mohan Pandey contacted her and invited her to Dehradun to inspect his restaurant, ‘Makuba Bar and Lounge’, claiming he needed vastu corrections.
During this period, the accused introduced himself as unmarried and gradually built a personal relationship with the woman. He projected himself as a well-connected businessman and spoke of large-scale ventures and financial success.
Promise of Partnership and Marriage
The accused allegedly offered the woman a partnership in his restaurant business, claiming that a bar license would soon be approved and profits would be substantial. Along with business assurances, he also promised marriage and claimed they would build their future together.
Trusting his words, the woman invested heavily. She allegedly paid around ₹55 lakh for bar licensing, interior work and other expenses. A significant portion of this amount was borrowed from her father.
False Assurances and Delays
The victim stated that whenever she asked for a written partnership agreement, the accused kept delaying the matter. At times, he dismissed the need for documentation by saying, “We are going to be together for life, paperwork is unnecessary.”
Later, she discovered that the restaurant premises had unpaid rent since 2023, and the accused was already embroiled in a legal dispute with the property owner — facts that had been deliberately concealed from her.
Threats and Disappearance
When the woman demanded the return of her money, the accused refused to marry her and allegedly threatened her and her family, claiming political and social influence.
Soon after, he switched off his mobile phone and went absconding.
Case Registered, Investigation Underway
Based on the complaint, Rajpur Police have registered an FIR under sections related to cheating, criminal breach of trust, and criminal intimidation. Station House Officer Pradeep Rawat stated that financial records, bank transactions, and communication details are being examined as part of the investigation.
Police teams are actively searching for the accused and analysing digital and financial evidence to trace the money trail.
