Two brothers arrested for Rs 34 lakh UltraTech Cement fraud
Two brothers arrested in Balaghat for orchestrating a Rs 34 lakh salary fraud at an UltraTech Cement factory unit in Maihar.
The police in Maihar have apprehended two brothers from Balaghat for their alleged involvement in a massive financial scam amounting to approximately Rs 34 lakh. The fraud took place at a private Pune-based company that operates within the premises of the UltraTech Cement factory.
The Inside Job: How the Scam Worked
The investigation has revealed a sophisticated scheme carried out by individuals who held positions of trust within the administrative department. The accused, identified as Jainendra Patre (36), who worked as an Admin Officer, and his brother Sandeep Patre (32), an Assistant Admin, allegedly exploited their authority to siphon off funds over a two-year period.
Between 2023 and 2025, the brothers reportedly manipulated critical administrative records, including:
- Online attendance logs
- Leave records
- Worker salary distributions
According to authorities, the duo registered fraudulent attendance for 17 laborers who had actually already left their jobs. To ensure the stolen money reached them, they replaced the legitimate bank account details of 15 of these workers with the accounts of their own relatives and acquaintances.
Audit Uncovers the Discrepancy
The elaborate scheme began to unravel during an internal audit conducted by the company in early 2026. The audit team discovered significant discrepancies in the salary and allowance payments made to the workforce. Following these findings, Akhilesh Kumar Mishra, the Assistant Manager (Admin), lodged a formal complaint at the Maihar Kotwali police station.
Police Action and Arrest
Acting on the complaint, the police registered a case on October 3 under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), specifically sections 318(4), 316(5), and 3(5). After conducting a targeted search, the Maihar police team tracked down and apprehended both brothers in Balaghat.
Following their arrest, the brothers were brought back to Maihar for intense interrogation. They were subsequently presented before a court, which ordered them to be sent to jail.