Rajasthan Police have arrested a suspect in connection with an alleged pesticide trade fraud that investigators say cost a Chandigarh-based company more than ₹78 lakh. The arrest, made in the town of Abohar, marks a significant development in a case that authorities describe as a carefully planned commercial deception.
The accused, Rajpal, 28, a resident of Sayeed Wali village, was taken into custody after investigators traced his role in the transactions. Police said about ₹4 lakh was recovered from him during the arrest. Following his detention, Rajpal was produced before a court and later sent to judicial custody while the investigation continues.
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The case was originally registered on June 18, 2024, at the Sriganganagar police station following a complaint filed by Ram Singh Nain and Mahendra Kumar Madan, directors of Bangad Insecticide Private Limited, a Chandigarh-based pesticide trading company.
Authorities say the arrest comes after months of investigation into what they believe is an organized fraud network operating through shell companies and forged business credentials.
A Business Relationship Built on Trust
According to investigators, the alleged fraud began during July and August 2023 when Bangad Insecticide began trading with several buyers from the Sriganganagar region.
The company operates a branch office at Kisan Bhawan in the New Grain Market of Sriganganagar, an agricultural trading hub where pesticides and farming inputs are routinely bought and sold by distributors and retailers.
Police say the suspects initially placed small orders for pesticides and made partial payments, gradually building trust with the company. Over time, these transactions expanded into larger orders.
During this period, business dealings between the parties reached approximately ₹1.10 crore in value.
However, investigators say that payments totaling only about ₹27 lakh were received by the company. The remaining balance—close to ₹78 lakh—was never settled.
Repeated demands for payment reportedly went unanswered.
Allegations of Fake Firms and Forged Documents
As concerns grew over the unpaid dues, the company directors began making inquiries into the buyers and their business credentials.
According to the police complaint, these inquiries suggested that the entities involved in the transactions might not have been legitimate businesses.
Investigators now allege that the accused had created firms in the names of other individuals using fraudulent registrations and forged licences. The companies were allegedly set up specifically to obtain goods on credit and evade payment afterward.
Authorities say the documents used in the transactions—including business registrations and trade licences—were falsified.
Police believe the structure allowed the suspects to appear credible during initial dealings while concealing their identities and intentions.
Officials describe the case as an example of organized commercial fraud in which multiple individuals may have coordinated the scheme.
Police Pursue Wider Network
Following Rajpal’s arrest, investigators say the search is continuing for other members of the suspected network.
Police officials in Sriganganagar said efforts have intensified to identify and apprehend additional suspects believed to have participated in the operation.
Inspector Prithvipal Singh, who is overseeing the investigation, said the alleged fraud appeared to have been carried out through a deliberate strategy: gaining a supplier’s confidence through smaller, legitimate-looking transactions before placing larger orders that were never paid for.
Authorities also said that after the goods were delivered, the suspects allegedly stopped responding to payment demands and in some instances issued threats when contacted by the company.
Investigators are now examining financial records, transaction histories and business registrations connected to the case to determine how widely the alleged network operated.
The arrest of Rajpal, police officials said, is only one step in a broader investigation aimed at uncovering the full extent of the fraud and the individuals involved in it.
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.
