Prashant Rokde, an IRS officer from the Maharashtra cadre known for his association with senior BJP leaders, including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, is facing non-bailable arrest warrants over allegations of defrauding a Jalandhar-based investor of Rs 17.41 crore.
Rokde has filed a petition for bail, which is set for hearing on 25 October in a Jalandhar court.
The IRS officer, alongside 18 co-accused, has been charged by Jalandhar’s City Police under Sections 406, 420, 506, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code at Division No. 7 police station. The case originated from a complaint lodged on 27 March this year, in which an Urban Estate resident alleged that Rokde and his team from Amrawati had deceived him out of a substantial investment sum.
The complainant claims he met Amritsar-based Tilak Raj while seeking to start a new business venture for his son. Tilak Raj subsequently introduced him to Rokde, whom he described as the Joint Commissioner of the Customs Department in New Delhi. During their interactions in May and June 2022, Rokde purportedly encouraged him to invest Rs 20 crore in a proposed wine business, promising significant returns.
According to the complainant, he transferred funds in instalments into the accounts of Rokde’s associates, including Shrirang Chandrachurh, Tilak Raj, and others, using accounts belonging to himself, his wife, and his son. Rokde allegedly assured the complainant he would realise Rs 170 crore in returns by February 2023.
The complainant provided police with extensive documentation of the alleged transactions, including bank records, messages, and call logs. Acting on the complaint, the City Police registered a case on 7 August, subsequently arresting Tilak Raj from Amritsar on 13 August and Chandrachurh from Amrawati on 14 August. Rokde’s name was added to the FIR later.
The list of accused includes individuals from various regions, including Babu Singh from Ahmedabad, and Yash, Shubham, Prajakta, Sushil, Anjali, Deepali, Praag, Avinash, Ankit Aggarwal, Raj Thakur, Parmar and Nilesh Libre, all from Maharashtra.
Swapan Sharma, Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, confirmed the investigation is ongoing, stating, “The matter is under detailed investigation, and all accused parties are being closely examined.”
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