New Delhi: The Delhi Crime Branch has arrested a 50-year-old rewarded accused who was allegedly the main conspirator in a cheating and forgery case involving approximately ₹1.75 crore, police said.
The accused, identified as Vinod Kumar Bhardwaj alias Rahul alias Pappu, was wanted in connection with an FIR registered at Ranhola police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A reward of ₹50,000 had been announced for information leading to his arrest. A proclamation had also been issued against him by the Tis Hazari Court.
According to the Crime Branch, the case relates to the alleged cheating of a retired Tihar Jail senior pharmacist, Kailash Narayan. Police said that after Narayan retired in 2024, Bhardwaj and his associates allegedly approached him with investment opportunities in property, promising secure and profitable returns.
The accused reportedly came to know about the complainant through a property dealer identified as Parveen. Police alleged that Bhardwaj, along with his wife, brother-in-law B.S. Bhardwaj and other associates, subsequently persuaded Narayan to invest his retirement savings in property.
The group allegedly sold six plots of land to the complainant using fake and fabricated documents, causing him a financial loss of around ₹1.75 crore, according to the police. The accused persons allegedly absconded after receiving the money, following which a case was registered at Ranhola police station.
During the investigation, all the accused allegedly remained absconding. The Tis Hazari Court subsequently issued proclamations against them under Section 84 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) on May 12, 2026. Thereafter, the Delhi Police Commissioner declared a reward of ₹50,000 on the accused persons.
The arrest was carried out by the NR-1 unit of the Crime Branch at Prashant Vihar following the development of specific intelligence about Bhardwaj’s movements.
Police said SI Niranjan Singh and ASI Pardeep developed intelligence through field sources and technical analysis. During the intervening night of September 13 and 14, the team received information that Bhardwaj was present in Sector 5, Dwarka. Acting on the information, the Crime Branch laid a trap and arrested Bhardwaj from a residential society in Sector 5, Dwarka, police said.
According to the police, Bhardwaj has been previously booked in four other criminal cases, including three cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and one case under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code. The previous cases include FIR under the NDPS Act registered with Narcotics, Crime & Railway; FIR under the NDPS Act at Uttam Nagar police station; and FIR under Section 354 IPC at Bindapur police station.
Notably, Police described Bhardwaj as a habitual offender. According to his profile released by the Crime Branch, he studied up to Class 5 and works as a labourer and whitewasher. He is married and has two sons and a daughter. His parents are deceased. Police also said he is addicted to alcohol. The Crime Branch is continuing its investigation into the alleged property fraud and the role of other accused persons in the case.