Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has approved the transfer of the high-profile Loni Urban Multi-State Credit & Thrift Cooperative Society (LUCC) fraud case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The move comes after numerous complaints from investors alleging large-scale financial fraud across 35 branches of the cooperative in the state.
So far, eight FIRs have been registered across five districts, Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, and Rudraprayag, with at least a dozen individuals arrested in connection with the scam, police officials confirmed.
According to investigators, the accused lured unsuspecting investors with the promise of high returns on their deposits. The investigation had initially been handled by the Crime Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) in Dehradun.
In April, the Uttarakhand Police reached out to central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax (IT) department, seeking further action on the financial irregularities uncovered during the probe.
The case first came to light in October 2023 when five individuals linked to the LUCC were arrested in Pauri Garhwal. Those taken into custody included Jagmohan Singh Bisht (51) and his wife Urmila Bisht (45) from Rishikesh; Pragya Rawat (25) and Vineet Singh (37) from Pauri Garhwal; and Girish Chandra Bisht (59) from Dehradun district.
“All five are key members of the fraudulent cooperative. They were operating extensively in Uttarakhand, promising lucrative returns on investments. Within the state alone, they owe Rs 92 crore in unpaid maturity amounts,” said Pauri Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Lokeshwar Singh. “We have also traced financial transactions extending beyond Uttarakhand, with the total dues touching ₹189 crore.”
The transfer of the case to the CBI is seen as a major step towards unravelling the full extent of the scam and bringing all responsible parties to justice.
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