Law student arrested for arms licence transfer fraud

Lucknow: A third-year law student was arrested within 24 hours of an FIR being registered for allegedly cheating a man of ₹10,000 on the pretext of getting an inherited arms licence transferred in his name.The accused, identified as Anoop Kumar, is a resident of Bhaisamau under the Bakshi Ka Talab police station area. Police recovered ₹9,000 and the mobile phone used in the crime from his possession.According to police, the complainant, Shanu alias Harishchandra of Asigaon village under the Dehat Kotwali police station area, had applied for transfer of his late father Virendra Singh’s licensed rifle to his name through inheritance.On Oct 5, Anoop allegedly contacted Shanu on the phone, posing as an arms clerk at Hardoi Collectorate. He assured the complainant that he would get the work done and demanded ₹10,000.The accused reportedly provided the account details of a Jan Seva Kendra operator in Sarwan, Lucknow, asking the complainant to transfer the money. Shanu paid the amount, but the licence was not transferred. Anoop subsequently switched off his phone, prompting the complainant to approach the police.

An FIR was registered at Cyber Police Station on Thursday and the accused was arrested within 24 hours.Inspector Waheed Ahmed said Anoop allegedly wore a lawyer’s robe while visiting Jan Seva Kendras and obtained account details from their operators on the pretext of receiving payments from clients.