Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested Deepak Rai, a ₹50,000 reward-carrying accused wanted in multiple cheating and forgery cases across several states, officials said.Rai, son of late Balaram Rai and a resident of Bulbulpura Ghasmandi under Kotwali Nagar police station in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, was nabbed on July 19 from Nanakbari Cut in Moradabad. The arrest was made by the STF’s Agra field unit with support from local police.The reward had been announced in connection with a 2020 cheating and forgery case registered in Moradabad. Investigators said Rai is also wanted in a 2021 case registered in Gonda district under IPC Sections 419 and 420, along with provisions of the Negotiable Instruments Act.According to the STF, Rai had remained absconding for several years and was allegedly involved in similar offences in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan while evading arrest. An STF team conducted surveillance and laid a trap near Nanakbari before taking him into custody.Police records indicate Rai has a long criminal history, with cases involving cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents and absconding after proclamation. Apart from Moradabad and Gonda, he is also named in cases in Saharanpur, Amroha, Ambala, Jhajjar, Jaipur and Sonipat.
