The cyber crime police and cyber cell unit in Shamli have busted an interstate cyber fraud racket worth ₹1.7 crore, arresting a couple accused of cheating dozens of people through a fake Telegram-based investment scheme. Police said the accused siphoned money from 41 victims across multiple States, routing the funds through a single bank account.
The arrested accused have been identified as Himank Prashant Kanv and his wife Surabhi Bhargav. According to investigators, the duo posed as advertising and casting professionals to gain credibility and executed the fraud in collusion with absconding associates. Kanv is a resident of Mumbai, while Bhargav hails from Shamli.
Certified Cyber Crime Investigator Course Launched by Centre for Police Technology
Money laundering through mule account
Investigations revealed that the accused opened a current account at a bank branch in Shamli, which was allegedly used as a mule account to route and launder money obtained from victims. Funds were transferred into this account from complainants based in Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Telangana.
Police officials said the money was withdrawn in a phased manner soon after being credited, making it difficult to trace the trail. So far, investigators have established that around ₹98.4 lakh of the total defrauded amount had already been withdrawn before the account came under scrutiny.
Bogus investment portal used to lure victims
According to the police, the accused and their associates created a Telegram channel and promoted it as a legitimate investment platform. Victims were lured with promises of quick and high returns, and were directed to deposit money through links leading to a bogus investment portal.
Once victims transferred funds in the name of investment, the money was credited directly to the Shamli-based bank account. In some cases, victims were initially shown small returns to build trust, following which they were persuaded to invest larger sums.
Delhi link and absconding accused
During interrogation, Himank Kanv told police that his involvement began while attempting to raise funds for a film project. He claimed he was introduced by a short filmmaker to Harshit alias Ritik, a Delhi-based individual who allegedly played a key role in the operation.
Police said Harshit arranged the opening of the bank account and exercised control over its operations, including routing and withdrawal of the fraud proceeds. He and other associates are currently absconding, and search operations are underway to trace them.
41 complaints flagged on national portal
The Shamli Superintendent of Police said that 41 complaints linked to the same bank account were found registered on the Union home ministry’s National Cybercrime Reporting Portal. Based on these complaints, police gathered technical evidence and tracked the money trail, leading to the arrest of the couple.
Investigators believe the scale of the fraud could be larger, as several transactions are still under verification.
Legal action and further probe
An FIR has been registered against the couple under Sections 318(4) (cheating) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.
Police said special teams have been formed to arrest the absconding accused and efforts are underway to recover the remaining defrauded amount. Authorities are also examining whether additional mule accounts were used as part of the fraud network.
Cyber safety advisory
Police officials have urged the public to remain cautious about investment offers circulated on social media and messaging platforms. They warned that schemes promising unusually high returns without proper authorisation or documentation are often fraudulent.
Officials added that timely reporting of cyber fraud not only increases the chances of recovery but also helps law enforcement agencies dismantle organised cybercrime networks operating across State borders.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
