Delhi Police bust online fraud: 3 arrested in connection with Rs 23.90 lakh investment scam

NEW DELHI: Three men who were duping people under the pretext of high returns from investment were arrested. The complainant, Ankit, alleged that he was scammed during a phone call in which he was promised huge profits for investing in a company. He deposited Rs 23.90 lakh into the provided accounts and lost all his money. Feeling cheated, he filed a complaint on the NCRP portal.

Deputy commissioner of police (Outer North) Nidhin Valsan formed a team under SHO (Cyber) Raman Kumar Singh.

Based on information, the team conducted continuous raids in various locations in Gujarat and apprehended two cyber criminals who were attending the inauguration of a newly opened shop selling readymade garments and accessories in Kheralu village, Vadnagar, Gujarat.

The cyber criminals are Karan Dabhi (23) and Ankit Dabhi (22). Two mobile phones containing evidence linking them to the crime were recovered. It was revealed that the readymade garments and accessories were purchased with the defrauded money by the ringleader, Prakash, and the shop inauguration ceremony was scheduled to take place in the name of his deceased wife, on Oct 24.

Another accused, Suresh Thakor (26), was arrested earlier in this case and has been in judicial custody since September 11, 2024. Police stated that the accused call people using fake numbers, tricking them into investing in various schemes with promises of huge profits. They then ask the victims to open a Demat account and transfer the call to another accomplice.

"The next caller asks the victims to transfer money to fake accounts, promising huge profits. Eventually, all the money is lost, and no profit is returned. The criminals use fake SIM cards and fake accounts belonging to labourers," police said.

Two of the accused are diploma holders in ITI from Gujarat. They used to call people to invest money in different commodities. "Ankit is the younger brother of kingpin Prakash. His father is posted as a GRD (Gram Rakshak Dal) Assistant at the Vadnagar police station," police said.

Suresh worked in a factory and acted as the middleman for kingpin Prakash, arranging fake accounts. He would collect cash through ATM withdrawals and hand it over to Prakash.

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