LUCKNOW, Jan. 25 -- The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Uttar Pradesh has arrested an assistant manager of Sahara Credit Co-operative Society Ltd. in connection with an alleged multi-crore investment fraud in which investors were duped of over Rs.14.36 crore, according to an EOW press note issued on Saturday and senior officials of the agency. The accused, Vikas Bhatnagar, was arrested on Friday from Fatehgarh Sahib district in Punjab as part of a drive to crack down on economic offences in Uttar Pradesh and apprehend wanted suspects, the officials said. They informed Bhatnagar is originally a resident of Kidwai Nagar in Kanpur. He was later found residing in Chunni Kalan under Badhali Ala Singh police station limits in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab. EOW officials said efforts are ongoing to trace financial trails and to ensure recovery of investor money as the investigation continues. According to senior EOW officers, Bhatnagar was posted as an assistant manager at the company's Agra branch and is suspected to have played a role in the fraudulent collection and misappropriation of investor funds. They said directors and other office-bearers of Sahara Credit Co-operative Society Ltd, headquartered in Lucknow, opened multiple branches in districts including Kanpur, Agra, Aligarh, Etawah, and Shahjahanpur. Through agents, they allegedly lured investors with attractive schemes and collected a total of Rs.14,36,81,345. Officials said that even after the investment period matured, the company's directors and functionaries allegedly failed to return the deposited money and instead misappropriated the funds. Senior officials said a case was originally registered at Kakadeo police station in Kanpur Nagar under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code in 2021. The initial investigation was conducted at the district level before being transferred to the EOW on government orders. During its probe, the EOW found 15 people allegedly involved in the fraud. Charge-sheets have already been filed in court against 14 accused, while legal proceedings against the remaining suspects are in progress.htc...