Bhopal | In a crime that closely resembles the plot of the Bollywood film Special 26, a gang posing as Income Tax officials carried out a fake raid at the residence of a government contractor in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district and fled with cash, gold jewelry and mobile phones. During the incident, the accused locked the contractor and his wife inside a room before escaping with the loot.
The incident took place in Bagh town of Dhar district, where seven to eight men arrived at the house of government contractor Rajkumar Malvi in a black SUV. Introducing themselves as a team from the Income Tax Department, the masked men claimed they had come to conduct a raid in connection with alleged black money.
The gang then began a supposed “search operation” inside the house. Moving through different rooms, the accused pretended to inspect cupboards and belongings while convincing the family that they were conducting an official investigation.
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During the search, the men took possession of the cash, gold ornaments and mobile phones present in the house. According to preliminary information, the accused looted more than ₹3 lakh in cash along with jewellery and other valuables. After collecting the items, the gang locked Rajkumar Malvi and his wife Krishna inside a room and fled the scene.
After some time, the couple realised that the raid had been fake. They began shouting for help from inside the locked room. Hearing their cries, neighbours rushed to the house and helped them get out. However, by the time they were rescued, the accused had already escaped in their SUV.
Following the incident, an investigation was launched and CCTV footage from nearby areas was examined. During the probe, investigators discovered that the same black SUV used in this crime had also been involved in another robbery that took place a day earlier in neighbouring Khandwa district. In that incident, a wealthy farmer’s house had been targeted early in the morning in a similar manner.
After identifying similarities between the two crimes, multiple teams were deployed to track down the suspects. Investigators traced the vehicle involved in the incident and eventually reached the accused. So far, three to five individuals have been taken into custody, including the owner of the SUV used in the crime.
During questioning, investigators found indications that the group could be part of a larger organised gang. Preliminary inputs suggest that around 10 to 12 members may be involved, with some operating across various districts of western and south-western Madhya Pradesh.
The probe has also revealed that some members of the gang belong to a community from Shajapur district and may have local informers and support networks in different regions. Authorities suspect that the gang identifies targets in advance and then stages fake raids in the name of government agencies to carry out robberies.
Sources further indicated that one member of the gang is believed to be related to a policeman’s family, a link that is currently under investigation. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding this aspect so far.
Interestingly, a similar incident was reported recently in Maharashtra’s Wardha district, where two youths were arrested while attempting a robbery after posing as Income Tax officials. In that case as well, the accused had planned to gain entry into a house by staging a fake raid.
Investigators are now examining whether these incidents are connected or if different gangs are using the same modus operandi to target victims.
Authorities have meanwhile urged the public to remain vigilant. They advised that in case of sudden raids claimed to be by government agencies, residents should verify the identity cards and official documents of the officials. In case of suspicion, people should immediately inform the local administration or police.
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.
