Dehradun: A man was assaulted and robbed of Rs 5 lakh in a fraudulent currency exchange deal in Dehradun’s Premnagar, police said on Monday, adding that they have arrested seven individuals, including three policemen, after analysing CCTV footage and surveillance data. The incident occurred on Friday when Yashpal Singh Aswal, a resident of Rishikesh, met Kundan Negi for the transaction.
Aswal told the police that he was contacted by Negi, who introduced him to individuals from Mori, Uttarkashi, seeking to exchange $20,000 (approximately Rs 17 lakh) for Indian currency at less than half the market value. “They offered a deal of approximately Rs 8 lakh and asked me to bring the money to Balaji Temple near Jhajra,” Aswal said.
On Friday, Aswal arrived at the designated spot with Rs 7.5 lakh, where four people, including Negi, were waiting. While they were discussing the exchange, two men — one in police uniform and the other in plain clothes — approached them, claiming to be cops. Aswal said, “They threatened me, snatched my bag with the money, and returned only Rs 2.5 lakh. They also physically assaulted and verbally abused me before forcing me to leave.”
Following Aswal’s complaint, a case was registered under sections 310(2) and 61(2) of BNS. “We launched an investigation, and using CCTV footage and surveillance data, we arrested seven accused, including three policemen,” said Dehradun SSP Ajai Singh. The police recovered Rs 2.3 lakh and $500 from the accused.
During interrogation, two more suspects were identified, and efforts are underway to apprehend them, the SSP added. The arrested policemen were identified as Iqrar, 43, posted at Premnagar police station, Abdul Rehman, 34, and Salam (32), both from the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) in Jhajra, Premnagar area.
