Who are the two cyber fraudsters arrested by Delhi Police in a Rs 50 lakh investment scam?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two individuals arrested for online investment fraud.
- Losses exceed Rs 50 lakh.
- Complex schemes involved fake stock-market investments and crypto trading.
- Investigation led by ACP Anil Kumar.
- Authorities have frozen multiple bank accounts involved in the scams.
New Delhi, Nov 15 (NationPress) The Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police Crime Branch has apprehended two suspects linked to distinct high-stakes online investment scams, resulting in total losses exceeding Rs 50 lakh to unwary victims, according to a statement from the Delhi Police on Saturday.
The arrests followed an exhaustive investigation that integrated advanced technical surveillance, meticulous financial tracing, and persistent human intelligence efforts, officials confirmed.
Under the guidance of ACP Anil Kumar, a team led by Inspector Ashok Kumar pinpointed the suspects' locations to Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh.
Both individuals were sought in two cases filed under Sections 318(4)/61(2) BNS and 318(4)/319/340 BNS for executing intricate online fraud schemes.
In the first instance, a victim was swindled out of Rs 23.8 lakh after being enticed by a fraudulent stock-market investment scheme.
The accused, Sunil Kumar Reddy (44), who holds an MBA and works as a Business Development Executive from Anantapur, allegedly impersonated a genuine investment consultant.
The victim transferred funds through 15 RTGS and NEFT transactions into various bank accounts that investigators later froze.
The police have already reimbursed Rs 5 lakh to the victim. Reddy was apprehended following extensive interstate cooperation.
In the second case, a private employee at TATA Croma in Lucknow fell victim to a sophisticated incentive fraud associated with a bogus crypto trading platform, losing Rs 26.49 lakh.
The accused, Ayush Semwal (21), a B.Com student and call-centre employee from Gautambudh Nagar, allegedly facilitated the transfer of illicit funds and managed mule accounts to obscure the financial trail.
Investigators uncovered 18 Layer-1 bank accounts employed to launder the proceeds of crime, all of which have been frozen.
Semwal confessed to selling several bank accounts for a commission.
"Following thorough interrogation, Ayush Semwal acknowledged that he had sold multiple accounts to another associate on commission based on transaction volumes," the Delhi Police noted in their press release.
He was taken into custody at his workplace in Noida Sector-58 by a team led by SI Gulshan Kumar.
"The dedicated and coordinated efforts of the Cyber Cell, Crime Branch, have successfully unveiled a concealed cyber fraud network operating across state lines. Further inquiries are ongoing," stated DCP Aditya Gautam.