Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing has uncovered a large-scale scam in which fraudsters operated under the name of the National Rural Literacy Mission to cheat vendors and families across several states. The syndicate is led by Karunakar Upadhyay, also known as Ratnakar Upadhyay, Anita Upadhyay, and Saurabh Singh.
Police said the accused posed as Indian Administrative Service officers to gain the trust of vendors and families of underprivileged students. They claimed they were arranging school uniforms for disadvantaged children. Vendors, convinced by the scheme, paid heavy commissions, advance fees, and processing charges but were never paid for the uniforms they supplied.
One vendor said, “I sent all the uniforms I had worked hard for, but the money never came. They even asked me to pay crores to secure a tender, but it was all part of the fraud. We were completely deceived.”
Investigators found that the racket was not limited to Delhi but also had cases registered in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Saurabh Singh, one of the accused, already faces multiple charges under the Gangsters Act.
During raids, police seized around 45,000 school uniforms worth 1.5 crore rupees, cash amounting to 2.79 lakh rupees, gold rings, chains, two flats, and a car. The vehicle has been seized and steps are underway to attach the properties.
An Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police said, “A complaint filed on May 22 alleged that the accused registered as vendors under NRLM, promised the supply of school uniforms, collected payments, and subsequently failed to deliver.”
Officials said the case highlights how government programmes can be misused to gain trust and carry out organised financial fraud. The scheme specifically targeted vendors and students from underprivileged backgrounds, making it particularly harmful.
Police have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and more victims are being traced. Authorities stressed that these arrests are only the beginning, and further accountability will follow as more evidence is uncovered.
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