Mangaluru police bust multi-state scam targeting e-commerce giant; two arrested

PTI, Nov 3, 2024, 8:13 AM IST

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru police have uncovered a multi-state, multi-crore scam with the arrest of two men accused of defrauding an e-commerce giant across India, officials said on Saturday.

The suspects, Raj Kumar Meena (23) and Subhash Gurjar (27) from Rajasthan, are alleged to be part of a large-scale fraud spanning over 10 states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Karnataka, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal described the arrests as a significant breakthrough.

A case has been registered at Urwa police station in Mangaluru.

The scam, reportedly, involved orders worth Rs 11.45 lakh placed under a false identity. The accused used the name Amith, to place orders, for two high-value cameras and other items, providing a fictitious address near the KSRTC bus stand in Mangaluru.

Upon delivery, Meena collected the items and provided the OTP while Gurjar distracted the delivery personnel. They, then, swapped the original stickers on the Sony camera boxes, with those of other items in the order, delaying delivery confirmation by using an incorrect OTP and arranging to collect the cameras the next day.

Suspicion arose when the accused later canceled the camera order, prompting the private logistics, the e-commerce platform’s delivery partner, to inspect the boxes and uncover the sticker swapping. Investigation confirmed that the accused had taken the cameras, leaving behind tampered boxes, police said.

The Urwa Police initiated an investigation, seizing Rs 11.45 lakh obtained from the sale of fraudulently acquired goods.

Meena was first detained by Salem Police in Tamil Nadu before being taken into Urwa Police custody on October 18. Gurjar was subsequently apprehended in Mangaluru on October 28 following Meena’s interrogation.

Meena had previously been arrested on October 4 in a similar case involving the e-commerce giant. Both suspects face charges across multiple states, including Assam, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. The investigation continues with authorities coordinating with police in states where additional cases are pending.