Man files fake case to settle a score, held

To settle a score with four men with whom he allegedly fought over giving right of way, a 25-year-old private tutor filed a false complaint at the Alipur police

To settle a score with four men with whom he allegedly fought over giving right of way, a 25-year-old private tutor filed a false complaint at the Alipur police station on Saturday. The tutor alleged that the four men robbed him of ₹5 lakh, and diamond and gold jewellery worth several lakhs of rupees, after involving him in an altercation to make to look like a road rage incident.

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However, his plan failed and the tutor, identified as Pankaj Lakra, was arrested as his story fell flat when the police checked his movements of that day. They found that he mortgaged the jewellery he claimed the four men stole to a bank the same day. The police also identified and questioned the four men, who told them that it was actually the complainant who impersonated a Delhi Police inspector and thrashed two of them.

“We have arrested Lakra on charges of impersonation and filing a fake complaint, and registered a first information report (FIR). Lakra, while driving on the wrong side of the road, fought with the four men and assaulted two of them after claiming to be a police inspector. Lakra filed the false complaint only to take revenge from the four men, whom he did not even know,” said deputy commissioner of police (outer-north) Gaurav Sharma.

“They fought over giving each other the right of way. Lakra alleged that two of them overpowered him from behind while the other two picked up his bag containing jewellery and ₹5 lakh from the rear seat. They also snatched his gold chain before fleeing,” a police officer said, quoting Lakra’s complaint.

A robbery case was registered and the police initially suspected the role of a gang that deliberately picks up a fight with commuters and them robs them. However, when Lakra’s allegations were verified, his cellphone details checked and his movements of the day examined, the police found some contradictions.

“His cellphone details revealed that he had already mortgaged the jewellery in a bank before the alleged robbery. Through the Santro’s registration number, we also found the four men whose statement confirmed that they were indeed victims. Accordingly, we interrogated Lakra who broke down and confessed to filing a false case. We arrested him,” said DCP said.

Lakra’s car, empty jewellery boxes and two receipts of the mortgaged jewellery were seized, the DCP added.