The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has successfully arrested Viraj Arvind Trivedi, also known as Vivek Dubey, a key suspect in a multi-crore event fraud case. Trivedi, who had been on the run for several months, was apprehended on Wednesday near a mall on Shaheed Path in Lucknow.
A reward of Rs 50,000 had been announced for information leading to his arrest, as Trivedi had been evading authorities since September 2024. He had escaped from the custody of Lucknow police on September 22, 2024, while being transported from Gujarat to Lucknow for further proceedings.
Trivedi, a resident of Baroda, Gujarat, was wanted in connection with a fraud case registered at the Sushant Golf City police station in Lucknow. According to the police, Trivedi had collected large sums of money from hundreds of people, promising to organize events but failing to deliver on his commitments. He absconded with the funds, leading to numerous complaints from the victims.
Trivedi was believed to be planning to flee the country with his family. After an initial investigation at the Sushant Golf City police station, he was arrested but managed to escape police custody during a court appearance in Gujarat. Authorities had been on high alert since then, tracking him down over several months.
On receiving a tip-off, the STF, along with the local police, launched a coordinated operation that led to Trivedi’s capture. ASP Vishal Vikram Singh, from the STF, stated that Trivedi had used his event organizing business as a cover to cheat people out of crores of rupees.
Trivedi has a long history of criminal activities. Before this event fraud, he was involved in several illegal activities that further complicated the case. The police believe that he had planned to flee the country, but their swift action has led to his arrest.