The Kozhikode cyber police have arrested two more persons, allegedly involved in a multi-crore online financial fraud, from Madhya Pradesh. The suspects, Shahid Khan, 52, and Dinesh Kumar Phulvani, 48, who were nabbed by a four-member special squad led by inspector K.R. Ranjith, were remanded in judicial custody on Monday (December 2).
Police sources said the two suspects used their bank accounts to deposit defrauded money from various sources. The police detected bank documents confirming financial transactions worth ₹1.5 crore.
The prime suspects, Sunil Bhangi, 48, and his aide Sheethal Kumar Mehta, 28, had already been nabbed from Bari Sadri town in Rajasthan. Shahid Khan and Dinesh Kumar Phulvani, their accomplices, were on the run after the police cracked the case in the first week of October this year.
The police said the complainant, a doctor, had lost around ₹4 crore in the online fraud. The gang allegedly exploited his love for charity by posing as young people in financial distress due to job losses during the pandemic. The prime suspects reportedly approached him online, fabricating a story about a struggling rural family with mounting debts.
The investigation team said the suspects had first contacted the doctor on social media in January. The alleged extortion continued for several months, and by August 23, the victim had reportedly transferred ₹4 crore in instalments to the suspects’ accounts.
When the victim smelt a rat and sought his money back, the prime accused reportedly fabricated false stories to justify their actions and threatened him with criminal cases, claiming that he had instigated violence to recover the money.
The cyber investigation team cracked the case after gathering incriminating documents, including bank transaction details, WhatsApp chats, and phone call records. The accused reportedly used the illegally obtained money to visit casinos and play online games in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Published – December 02, 2024 11:23 pm IST
