Fraud Women submitted Fake Death Certificate of Husbands to waive off Bank Loan, Police arrests and sends to Jail

Gorakhpur: In a shocking incident in Gola Bazar, four women fraudulently declared their husbands dead to avoid repaying loans taken from Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited, a subsidiary of IndusInd Bank. By submitting fake death certificates, they not only had their loans waived off but also claimed refunds of previously deposited loan installments as death benefits.

How the Fraud Unfolded

The fraud case came to light after the bank filed a complaint, prompting the police to investigate. Upon inquiry, it was discovered that the husbands of all four women were, in fact, alive. The accused women—Aashiya alias Asha (wife of Islam), Rajkumari Devi (wife of Neeraj Jaiswal), Sadhna (wife of Vinay Kumar Maurya), and Moti Devi (wife of Gaurishankar Prajapati)—were arrested on Sunday and sent to jail. The investigation is still ongoing, as more individuals may be involved in the scam.

A Wider Network Suspected

Police suspect that the fraudulent scheme, involving fake death certificates, could be part of a larger network. According to Kotwal Ved Prakash Sharma, this kind of scam cannot be carried out by a few rural women alone. It may involve bank employees and agents working together to exploit loopholes in the loan and insurance processes.

The fraud allegedly occurred under the watch of the bank’s former branch manager, Brijesh Kumar Saroj, and his father, Rambali. They are accused of misusing their positions to embezzle insurance money and loan amounts by forging death certificates. The total amount swindled is estimated to be Rs 6.44 lakh.

Loans Meant for Rural Women Misused

Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited offers loans to women in rural and semi-urban areas to promote self-employment. These loans are typically given to women’s groups and repaid in easy installments. However, in this case, the loan system was manipulated by creating fake death claims.

Past Incidents of Loan Exploitation

This is not the first time rural women have been exploited under the guise of financial assistance. Some private banking companies active in rural areas allegedly provide loans at low rates without formal agreements and later charge exorbitant interest rates. Women often end up paying back more than the original loan amount, yet their debt remains unchanged due to hidden terms.

In a similar case last year, women in Maharajganj district were deceived with false promises of loan waivers. Some were even lured to Gorakhpur with the promise of debt relief, only to realize it was a scam. Tragically, in Deoria, a woman caught in a debt trap took her own life.

Police Action and Ongoing Investigation

The Gola police are determined to uncover the full extent of this fraudulent network. Additional suspects have been identified, and further action is expected soon. The police have emphasized that fake death claims not only led to loan waivers but also enabled the accused to collect insurance money fraudulently.

Conclusion

This incident highlights the need for stricter oversight in loan disbursement and recovery processes, especially in rural areas. It also underscores the vulnerability of women in rural regions who may be lured into scams by false promises of financial aid. Authorities are now focused on dismantling the network behind this fraud and bringing all culprits to justice.