Patiala, July 9,
Patiala Police achieved a major breakthrough in exposing a fraud gang led by a mastermind who used the former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister’s old mobile number to pose as his close associate, creating a false impression of influence. The gang’s leader, identified as the kingpin of a network involved in forging bail bonds and fake documents, was apprehended. This was announced by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varun Sharma during a press conference at Police Lines, Patiala.
Details of the Case
SSP Varun Sharma revealed that on June 19, 2025, Patiala Police registered a case at Lahori Gate Police Station, uncovering a gang engaged in producing fake bail bonds and forged documents to secure bail for accused individuals in various courts. The gang’s leader, Jai Kishan Bhardwaj, son of the late Jagga Ram, resident of Santosh Colony, Dharuhera, Rewari, Haryana, was arrested. Five mobile phones were seized from him, and during interrogation, evidence of his involvement in larger fraudulent activities surfaced.
Misuse of Former Deputy CM’s Number
The SSP disclosed that Bhardwaj had obtained a Vodafone number, 8447808080, previously used by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab affairs in-charge, Manish Sisodia. Forensic analysis of the seized phones revealed significant findings. Bhardwaj used this number to create a false impression of being Sisodia’s close associate, attempting to establish contact with political figures, MLAs, and government officials in Punjab via WhatsApp messages to exert influence and deceive people. While he attempted to defraud many, he had not yet succeeded in these efforts.
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Legal Action
Based on these findings, Patiala Police registered a case on July 8, 2025, at Kotwali Police Station under Sections 319(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 66, 66C, and 66D of the IT Act (Case No. 145). Further investigations are underway to explore the possibility of larger scams orchestrated by the gang.
Criminal History
SSP Sharma noted that the gang is habitual in committing fraud, and Bhardwaj has a prior criminal record. In Haryana, he posed as a fake CBI officer to defraud a woman of lakhs of rupees, for which he served a three-year sentence. His arrest has prevented a major fraudulent operation, as he had portrayed himself as a close associate of the former Delhi CM in his chats, plotting to use the number for further scams.
Acquisition of the Number
Bhardwaj obtained the Vodafone number with the help of a close associate, and this aspect is also under investigation. The police are probing how he accessed the number and whether others were complicit in the scheme.
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Police Team and Significance
The press conference was attended by SP Gurbans Singh Bains and CIA Staff In-charge Pardeep Singh Bajwa. The arrest marks a significant achievement for Patiala Police in thwarting a sophisticated fraud operation that exploited a high-profile individual’s former contact details to deceive influential figures. The ongoing investigation aims to dismantle the gang’s network and prevent further fraudulent activities, reinforcing the police’s commitment to combating cybercrime and forgery.
