The Gautam Budh Nagar police, in collaboration with the SWAT team, have dismantled an extensive electronic weighing scale scam operating across several states. Four individuals were arrested for manipulating weighbridges by installing electronic chips and using remote-control devices to alter weight readings.
The fraud was uncovered across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. The arrested suspects have been identified as Kapil Kumar and Manmohan Singh, both from Delhi, Vinay Kumar Sharma from Sonbhadra, and Dheeraj Sharma from Gurugram.
According to the police, the suspects lured weighbridge owners with attractive offers, then installed custom-made electronic chips that allowed operators to manipulate weight measurements remotely, either inflating or reducing them. This fraud led to significant financial losses for businesses dealing with construction materials, such as steel bars, sand, and gravel.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Saad Miyan Khan explained that Kapil Kumar initially connected with Vinay Kumar Sharma and Dheeraj Sharma via an online marketplace. Together, they designed the chips, which were sold for ₹5-10 lakh each, despite costing only Rs10,000-Rs20,000 to make. These chips were supplied to traders, including those in the scrap and steel industries, leading to earnings of Rs50 lakh and a seized stock worth Rs75 lakh.
During a raid at the Salarpur underpass, the police recovered numerous remote controls, 30 electronic chips, and various technical devices, including computers, laptops, and soldering equipment.
A case of cheating under Section 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been filed at Dankaur police station, and further investigations are underway to uncover more individuals involved in the operation.
