Delhi Police officer duped of Rs 50 lakh by couple in health product investment scam

NEW DELHI: A Delhi Police officer has alleged that he was defrauded of over Rs 50 lakh by a couple who claimed to be entrepreneurs in the health product business.
The officer, Deepak Sharma, met the couple, Raunak and Ankit Gulia, in 2021 on a reality TV show where they were both participants. Raunak introduced herself as a performer and said that her husband is a known entrepreneur in the field of healthcare products.
In May 2022, Rounak introduced Sharma to her husband at the launch party of their supplement brand in which she was a director.In January 2023, Rounak told Sharma that her husband's business was flourishing and they were getting a huge profit, but they needed funds to expand their business.
Sharma agreed to invest Rs 50 lakh in the couple's business. However, he later found out that the couple had no such business and had simply duped him of his money.
Sharma has filed a complaint with the Madhu Vihar police station in east Delhi. The police have registered a case of cheating and are investigating the matter.
Rounak persuaded the victim that if he can capitalise around Rs 50 lakh then her husband would shell out 10 to 15 per cent profits with no share in losses and also induced him to be a brand ambassador of the said company and brand, the FIR said.
Waiving at the options, Sharma agreed to capitalise the same on 15 per cent. February onwards, he transferred a sum of Rs 43 lakh into Ankit's account and Rs 8 lakh in cash on several occasions and some through various transactions from his savings accounts, it said.
In April, when Sharma enquired about the status of the money given to the couple, he realised that he had been defrauded. Furthermore, Sharma also came to know numerous people have been played by the couple in the same way.
Raunak and Ankit are absconding and an investigation is on in the case, police said.
(With inputs from PTI)