A case of alleged fraud involving ₹34.20 lakh in the name of arranging Haj pilgrimage has been reported in Bokaro, Jharkhand. Based on a complaint registered under the Marafari police station area, police have filed an FIR against Mohammed Alamgir and his sister Yasmeen, residents of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, and begun an investigation.
According to the complaint, the case began in November 2024 when complainant Khaja Moinuddin Ansari met Mohammed Alamgir while visiting his in-laws in Siwandih. During the conversation, Alamgir offered to arrange Haj pilgrimage and said the cost would be around ₹5.70 lakh per person. He also claimed to have a company in Bareilly.
Trusting the assurance, the complainant and his acquaintances deposited money for the Haj pilgrimage.
The complainant said that his brother-in-law Jameel Ahmad and Gol Babu Ansari, a resident of Dumro Siwandih, had also planned to undertake Haj with their respective wives. They paid the accused on different dates. A total of ₹34.20 lakh was allegedly deposited with the accused.
According to the complainant, the money was paid because the accused had assured them that the Haj pilgrimage would be arranged through their setup. The families collected the money with the expectation that they would travel for Haj at the scheduled time.
Later, the accused reportedly said that the government Haj quota had been reduced and that the pilgrimage could not be arranged in 2025. The complainant and the others then decided to undertake Haj at their own expense, requiring them to make their own travel arrangements.
When the complainant and others subsequently sought the return of their deposited money, it was allegedly not refunded. The complainant also alleged that the company office in Siwandih was later closed.
After the money reportedly remained unpaid for a considerable period, the matter was brought before the police.
Marafari police have registered the case on the basis of the complaint and are investigating the allegations. Police are seeking to determine whether the accused actually collected money from people in the name of arranging Haj pilgrimage and are examining the alleged transactions, the company and the accused's contacts.
The investigation will also determine how many people had paid money to the accused. The complaint states that several people had made payments. If the investigation confirms similar alleged fraud involving additional people, the scope of the case could increase.
Bank accounts and documents related to the money transfers could provide information during the investigation. Police may examine which accounts received the money collected from the complainants and how the funds were used. If the money was transferred to accounts belonging to different people, those transactions could provide information about the alleged network.
Documents relating to the office and company identified by the accused may also be examined. Police will seek to determine what type of business the company actually operated and whether it had any valid permission or arrangement related to organising Haj pilgrimage.
The complainants have alleged financial loss as well as difficulties after their Haj plans had to be changed. They also face the issue of the large amount of money allegedly not being returned.
The case has raised the issue of alleged financial fraud involving arrangements for religious travel. Before paying a large amount to an agent or private company for religious travel, the validity and registration of the agency and its authorised arrangements for conducting the journey can be checked. In this case, the complainants have alleged that they deposited large amounts after receiving assurances about the company and Haj arrangements.
For now, Marafari police have registered an FIR and begun the investigation. Statements of the complainants, money transactions, company-related documents and the role of the accused will be examined. The investigation is expected to establish how many people were affected and how the deposited money was used.
