After over a decade on the run, 77-year-old fugitive Sitaram Gupta was arrested by Delhi Police at an old-age home in Patiala, Punjab, for masterminding a long-standing Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) scam.
Gupta, a postgraduate in Economics and History from Panjab University, was wanted for impersonating an Army Colonel and cheating individuals by offering fake AWHO housing and job schemes. He issued forged receipts, promised flats, and used his background as a former Army oil contractor to build credibility among victims.
The original case was registered in 2007 at Vivek Vihar police station in Delhi. He was later declared a proclaimed offender by a Delhi court due to his continued evasion of justice.
A special team from Delhi Police tracked Gupta down after years of investigation. Upon arrest, he confessed to multiple counts of fraud. His capture marks the end of a 10+ year manhunt, during which he had blended into society under a false identity, living in an old-age facility.
Police stated that Gupta used insider knowledge of military procurement processes and Army structure to enhance the credibility of his scam and manipulate vulnerable victims.
