# Raigarh Investment Fraud: Woman Held in Sakti for Cheating Rural Women of Over Rs 70 Lakh with False Stock Market Returns

> Police in Raigarh have arrested a woman named Menka Sarathi from Sakti for allegedly defrauding over 11 rural women and others of more than Rs 70 lakh under the false promise of doubling their money in the stock market.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Chhattisgarh · **Published:** 2026-10-07 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/chhattisgarh/raigarh-men-sheyara-bajara-men-rakama-doguni-karane-ka-lalacha-dekara-mahilaon-se-70-lakha-rupaye-ki-thagi-mukhya-aropi-menka-sara-44461 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Raigarh Crime, Investment Fraud, Menka Sarathi, Stock Market Scam, Sakti Police, Pushpendra Baghel, Chhattisgarh News

A major financial fraud targeting rural women has surfaced in the Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh, where victims were duped of more than Rs 70 lakh under the lure of doubling their savings through stock market investments. The fraudulent scheme was operated as a family enterprise, with the suspects systematically cultivating trust among local residents before absconding with their hard-earned money. Law enforcement authorities have registered a criminal case and arrested the primary female suspect, while teams pursue her husband and mother who are also implicated in the operation.

## The Promise of Guaranteed Stock Market Doubling
The fraudulent scheme preyed upon the trust and limited financial awareness of village residents. The primary suspect, Menka Sarathi, alongside her husband Akshay Sarathi and her mother Meera Sonwani, approached local women claiming that they traded actively in equities and the stock market. They convinced the victims that handing over their capital would yield rapid returns, assuring them that their investments would be doubled within a short duration. Enticed by the guarantee of outsized returns, numerous women agreed to hand over their household savings.

## Building Credibility Through Initial Payouts
To establish credibility and quell initial scepticism, the suspects employed a classic Ponzi-style tactic. In the opening phase, Menka Sarathi returned supposed profits to a small initial group of participants. Witnessing these early returns, other villagers became convinced that the scheme was legitimate and safe. Consequently, more than 11 women along with other local residents handed over substantial amounts of money to the trio. In total, the funds collected reached 70,77,901 rupees. Once the inflows peaked, however, the returns dried up entirely, and requests by investors to recover their principal amounts were flatly denied.

## Complaint Lodged and Police Action in Sakti
The fraudulent operation finally unraveled when a victim named Harabai Nishad approached the authorities to report that she and multiple other women from her village had been swindled out of their savings. Acting on her official complaint, police initiated an investigation that substantiated the allegations made by the aggrieved villagers. According to DSP Pushpendra Baghel, formal charges were registered promptly following the verification of the victims' statements. A police team tracked down and arrested Menka Sarathi from Sakti. Investigators confirmed that 70 lakh 77 thousand rupees had been siphoned off through the operation, and search efforts remain actively underway to apprehend her absconding husband Akshay Sarathi and mother Meera Sonwani.

## What this means for you
This incident highlights the critical danger of falling for unregulated get-rich-quick investment schemes.

- **In Chhattisgarh:** Residents in rural belts must refrain from handing over cash to unregistered individuals promising unrealistic returns. Anyone suspecting financial deceit should immediately lodge a complaint with local police or the cyber crime desk.
- **Across India:** Legitimate financial markets do not offer guaranteed doubling of money, and investments should only be made through SEBI-registered entities. Schemes offering assured high returns within short timeframes are almost always fraudulent.
- **Protecting Capital:** Households should route their hard-earned savings strictly through scheduled commercial banks, post office schemes, or authorized investment bodies. Never deliver physical cash to informal agents offering off-market trading opportunities.
- **Legal Recourse:** Prompt reporting to law enforcement increases the likelihood of tracing illicit funds and securing arrests before assets are completely dissipated. Victims must step forward without hesitation to seek legal restitution.

## Why this happened
The crime occurred because the perpetrators exploited financial vulnerabilities and trust within rural communities through a calculated scheme.

- **Promise of Unrealistic Returns:** The suspects lured villagers by falsely claiming that stock market investments could reliably double their money within a brief period. This promise of exponential gains overcame initial caution.
- **Ponzi Mechanics to Establish Trust:** Early participants were handed small profit payouts to build local credibility. This manufactured success encouraged over 11 women and other locals to hand over large sums.
- **Coordinated Deception:** Operating collectively, Menka Sarathi, her husband Akshay Sarathi, and her mother Meera Sonwani collected 70,77,901 rupees before cutting off payments entirely. Following an official complaint, police arrested the primary suspect while tracking the remaining conspirators.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. What was the pretext used to commit the fraud in Raigarh?
The accused lured rural women with false guarantees of doubling their money in a short span through stock market trading.

### 2. What is the total amount defrauded from the victims?
Police investigations revealed that a total of 70,77,901 rupees was collected from more than 11 women and other local residents.

### 3. Who has been arrested in connection with the crime?
The primary suspect, Menka Sarathi, has been apprehended by the police from Sakti.

### 4. Which other individuals are accused in the case?
Her husband Akshay Sarathi and mother Meera Sonwani are also named as accused and are being pursued by the police.

### 5. Who initially reported the fraudulent activity to the police?
A victim named Harabai Nishad approached the authorities to report that she and other village women had been duped.

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