Wanted Criminal Evading Police For Years By Faking His Death Arrested In Agra

SHO of Achhnera police station Vinod Mishra stated that he was currently staying in Soniga village under an assumed identity.

Representational Image | A man wanted in 36 criminal cases, was arrested in UP's Agra for faking his death and adopting a new identity to evade police.

Source : ABPLIVE AI

A man who had been a wanted criminal and was evading police for years by faking his death and adopting a new identity has been arrested in the Agra district of Uttar Pradesh, police said on Sunday.

The accused identified as, Jaidev, was wanted in 36 criminal cases, including robbery and murder, across multiple police stations such as Shahganj, Etmaduddaula, and Achhnera, according to a police statement.

"To escape detection, Dev had gone so far as to declare himself dead on paper, avoiding court appearances and further scrutiny," it said, as per the PTI.

SHO of Achhnera police station Vinod Mishra stated that he was currently staying in Soniga village under an assumed identity. The officer further added that the accused was presented in court after his arrest and was subsequently sent to jail.

Nabarangpur Labour Department Busts Fake Death Scam

On January 30, the Nabarangpur Labour Department uncovered a large-scale fraud in which middlemen falsely declared living construction workers dead to siphon off welfare funds in Odisha. Officials have seized 101 fake death certificates across three blocks—42 from Nabarangpur and 59 from Papadahandi and Kosagumuda combined.  

According to a report by New Indian Express, authorities have launched an investigation after the fraud came to light. The scam involved exploiting a welfare scheme that provides Rs 3 lakh in financial assistance to the families of deceased construction workers.  

Middlemen collected Aadhaar cards, bank passbooks, and other documents from workers, then used forged death certificates to file online applications and claim benefits. Once the funds were deposited in the bank accounts, they withdrew the money.  

In one instance, fraudsters altered the genuine death certificate of Sanai Jani from Patramunda village by replacing the name with Kartik Gouda of Sindhigaon, who is still alive.

Similarly, the death certificate of Rupadhar Amanatya from Karluguda village was manipulated to falsely claim benefits in the name of Kumari Bhatra from Mantriguda village, who is also alive. Other labourers, including Sanu Bhatra and Raghunath Gouda, were also wrongly declared dead.  

Suspecting foul play, the labour department asked the chief district medical officer to investigate 42 death certificates issued over two years. A probe by the district health department confirmed that all 42 certificates from Nabarangpur block were fraudulent.