Patna’s underbelly of deceit exposed: A smooth-talking fraudster convinced a local woman that her ordinary life was about to transform into glamour and power. With promises of Bollywood breaks and gubernatorial glory, he fleeced her for 10 lakh rupees in a meticulously planned con.
The victim, Anita Mishra, approached Rajiv Nagar police with a tale straight out of a thriller. Yuvaraj Pratap Singh, the accused, painted himself as a power broker with ‘reach to the top.’ He dangled the carrot of her son starring as a movie hero while assuring her own ascent to state governor.
Singh’s arsenal included fabricated property deals in prime locations like Shimla and Delhi. He even staged calls from ‘elite contacts’ Ashok and Shah Nawaz, pocketing 5 lakh immediately. ‘Your governor application is with the President now,’ he lied, before whisking her to Shimla for a sham land viewing, claiming another lakh for ‘hotel costs.’
The sting’s sophistication lay in its emotional manipulation, preying on a mother’s ambitions. Patna police have launched a manhunt, analyzing call records and transaction trails.
Adding to the city’s scam woes, electricity fraudsters struck Skepuri hard. Posing as utility workers, they terrified residents with disconnection threats, sending phishing links that siphoned 3.91 lakh from one ICICI account alone. Three victims lost 6.11 lakh total, while eight others across areas surrendered 13.34 lakh to varied ruses.
Experts highlight a surge in digital cons targeting the elderly and aspirational middle class. ‘Question every unsolicited offer,’ advises cyber cell chief. As investigations intensify, Patna residents are rallying for better financial literacy programs to combat these shadowy operators.