Fake 'Kidnapped Son' Arrested For Robbing Family In UP's Ghaziabad

The man claimed that he was kidnapped as a child, a story he used to exploit families and rob them.

A man who fooled a family in Ghaziabad as the long-lost son turns out to be a fraud and a thief who targeted families who had missing children. Ghaziabad Police arrested Raju, for robbing and defrauding several families over the years. He used a false story of being kidnapped as a child to deceive families and exploit them emotionally and financially.

On November 24, Raju arrived at the Khoda police station, he claimed that he was kidnapped at the age of 8. He further said that he was taken to Jaisalmer, Rajasthan where he worked as a shepherd for a family but he managed to escape and hitched a ride to Delhi in a truck.  

After the police published his story hoping to find his family, a family soon identified him as their son and was taken home.

However, just days later the family noticed changes in his behaviour and mood, and it raised concerns. The police were contacted and his DNA was sent for matching with that of the family, which led to his arrest.

Another family from Dehradun reached out to the police claiming that Raju was their missing son. They said he had stayed with them for four months before he disappeared again.

With these conflicting claims, the police intensified their investigation to uncover the truth. Upon being questioned Raju confessed to a history of deceptions, his real name was Indra Raj, a habitual offender from Rajasthan with a long history of theft and fraud.

Indra Raj was thrown out of his home in 2005 because of his habit of stealing. Since then, he developed a modus operandi  -- he targeted families who had lost children and earned their trust with his kidnapping story, he robbed their houses and left without informing anyone.

During interrogation, Indra Raj disclosed a troubled childhood marked by hardship. Following his mother’s death, he endured abuse from his stepmother, which ultimately led him to a life of crime.

The Ghaziabad Police have assembled multiple teams to investigate his past crimes and collect evidence from other states. Indra Raj is currently in police custody as authorities work to deliver justice to the families he deceived.