Delhi crime branch busts dollar exchange scam spanning six states

NEW DELHI: Two men have been arrested for orchestrating a currency exchange scam that defrauded victims across six states, police officials said Sunday. The accused, 23-year-old Neeraj alias Raju and his accomplice Karan alias Rahul, were caught in Ghaziabad following a coordinated operation by Delhi Police's crime branch.
According to police, the duo targeted victims by displaying genuine US dollars as bait before switching them with bags filled with worthless paper during currency exchange transactions. The scammers then fled with the Indian currency, destroying their disposable SIM cards and phones to avoid detection.
"The gang operated across Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra," said DCP Vikram Singh of the crime branch. "They recently cheated an elderly man of Rs 1 lakh and another victim of Rs 2 lakh in Sonia Vihar."
Both suspects are habitual offenders with multiple prior arrests. Neeraj has six cases registered against him, including charges under the NDPS Act, robbery and Arms Act. Karan has four cases, including burglary and arms-related charges.
A police investigation has revealed that in Sept, the gang executed a similar fraud near Ratlam railway station in Madhya Pradesh, making off with Rs 1.5 lakh.
"The accused would typically visit shops and make purchases using genuine US dollars to establish credibility," inspector Gurmeet Singh, who led the operation, said. "They would then inquire about currency exchange possibilities, targeting interested individuals through fake SIM cards."
The arrests came following specific intelligence that the crime branch got about their activities. Both suspects have been charged under Section 35.1(B) BNSS, and efforts are under way to catch their remaining associates - Mohd Khalid, Raza Khan, Afjal and Vishnu.