Victims protested at SP office, demanded FIR and return of funds after couple allegedly vanished with investments.

Around 200 people in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, have accused a local couple of running a scheme that promised to “double” investors’ money and then disappearing, leaving families in financial distress, according to victims and local officials. The aggrieved staged a protest at the Superintendent of Police (SP) office on Wednesday, demanding an FIR and speedy action.

Who and where
Victims identified the accused as Aslam Ansari and his wife, Abla Sultana (also known as Nanda). The alleged fraud affected residents across Rewa city and surrounding localities, with many complainants saying they were women and elderly savers from neighbourhoods including (localities named by victims), who handed over lifetime savings or borrowed money to invest.

How the scheme worked
Sources familiar with the matter said the couple initially paid out small returns to early investors, building credibility. That encouraged a larger number of people to deposit money with them on the promise that their principal would double. According to victims’ estimates shared during the protest, the scheme drew in “lakhs to crores” of rupees collectively, though no consolidated total has been recorded by police.

Timeline and ground cues
Initial reports indicate payments were made for a short period before the accused began delaying returns. Over recent weeks, when more depositors asked for their money back, the couple reportedly became evasive and then went missing, leaving many households without funds in the run-up to daily expenses and bill payments. Protesters gathered at the SP office in the late morning, some carrying receipts and hand-written records of transactions.

Victims’ complaints
Speaking to reporters at the SP office, several victims described acute financial hardship. One woman said she had given “years of savings” to the couple after they approached her at home; another said she borrowed from relatives to make the deposit. Organisers of the protest claimed roughly 200 people were affected and handed over a memorandum calling for immediate FIR registration and recovery measures.

Police response
SP Guru Karan Singh received the delegation and acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations. “We will investigate the matter and take appropriate action,” he told assembled victims, according to those present. Officials confirmed they have begun preliminary inquiries into complaints received at local police stations and that forensic checks on transaction records will follow. Police did not say whether an FIR had been registered at the time of the protest but assured demonstrators that legal steps would be taken.

Why this matters
Schemes that promise unrealistically high returns can devastate low- and middle-income households, particularly where social trust and word-of-mouth endorsements replace formal financial safeguards. Local consumer groups and a lawyer representing a cluster of victims said quick registration of an FIR is essential to preserve evidence, track suspected bank transfers or cash flows, and issue lookout notices if needed.

Background and context
Financial frauds using personal networks have surfaced periodically in smaller Indian towns, often blurring the line between informal lending and ponzi-style operations. Early payouts to initial investors are a common tactic to lure larger sums. Regulators and police have increasingly warned the public to verify registrations and insist on formal receipts and written contracts for any investment.

Impact and next steps
Protest leaders said they will continue pressure until an FIR is filed and the accused are located. Several victims are preparing to pursue a coordinated legal complaint with documentary evidence, receipts and witness statements. Police told reporters they would examine CCTV, phone records and bank transactions and coordinate with neighbouring districts if the accused have fled outside Rewa.

What to watch
Authorities’ next public update on FIR registration and the progress of the probe will be closely watched by victims. If a formal FIR is filed, the case could move quickly to asset-tracing and potential attachment requests to recover investor funds.

Gas Cylinder Black Marketing: ₹918 Cylinder Sold for ₹2,500, Agency Employee Held in Bhopal

Food department seizes 68 cylinders in single-day raids; four-day LPG stock available, says minister

Bhopal Black Market Busted

Bhopal's food supply department cracked down on rampant gas cylinder black marketing on Saturday, seizing 68 domestic and commercial LPG cylinders across the city in coordinated raids. The day-long operation exposed a network where a subsidised domestic cylinder priced at ₹918 was being resold for ₹2,500 — nearly three times its official rate.

Agency Employee Caught Red-Handed

Acting on specific intelligence, officials laid a decoy trap and arrested Salman, an employee of Rishabh Indane Gas Agency, along with his associate Shalig Qureshi, a resident of Barkhedi. Salman arrived on a scooter carrying a cylinder and accepted ₹2,500 from the decoy buyer before being apprehended. According to officials, Salman had been buying cylinders from consumers standing in booking queues by paying an extra ₹500, then reselling them at inflated prices.

Mobile Reveals Scale of Racket

Assistant Supply Officer Ashok Satyarthi stated that Shalig's mobile phone revealed the full extent of the operation. Records showed two cylinders had been sold for ₹5,000 in a single transaction. Commercial cylinders were being offered at ₹3,500, while domestic ones fetched ₹2,500 — all arranged via phone deals struck throughout the day.

Ideal HP Agency Under Scanner

One of the seized cylinders was traced back to Ideal HP Gas Agency. The accused claimed it had been purchased from a consumer, but food department officials indicated the agency operator's role remained suspect. The matter is under further scrutiny.

Seven Cylinders Seized Near Peepal Chauraha

District Supply Controller Chandrabhan Singh Jadon confirmed that seven Indane cylinders — five empty, two full — were seized from Suyash and Samit Jain near Peepal Chauraha. Officials received information suggesting gas was being illegally transferred into smaller cylinders at the location, a practice that poses significant safety hazards.

Demand Outpacing Supply at Agencies

Crowds have been building at Rai, Saini, Mamta, and Happy Gas agencies across Bhopal. These outlets are recording between 1,000 and 1,500 daily bookings, while available stock stands at only 300 to 400 cylinders per agency. Officials attributed the surge to panic booking triggered by misinformation, not any actual shortage. Combined LPG stock across Indane, Bharat, and Hindustan Gas depots in the district stands at 2,183 tonnes, with a daily supply capacity of 450 tonnes — enough for four days. However, panic-driven demand has pushed requirements to 1,300 tonnes per day.

State Has Adequate LPG Stock: Rajput

Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Govind Singh Rajput assured residents that Madhya Pradesh faces no fuel crisis. Refineries are operating at full capacity, crude oil supply is uninterrupted, and bottling plants are running extended hours to meet demand. As per reports, inspections at 2,050 locations have so far resulted in the seizure of 2,912 cylinders and registration of nine FIRs across the state. The PNG connection process has also been expedited to reduce long-term dependence on cylinders. The minister urged citizens to avoid acting on rumours and not to panic-book, which is the primary driver of the current supply strain. The gas cylinder black marketing network in Bhopal is expected to face further legal action as investigations continue.