Cybercrime authorities in Rajasthan have initiated an extensive probe after an Ajmer-based family and their close relatives were swindled of ₹50.70 lakh in a high-yield stock trading scam. The fraudsters operated through fraudulent WhatsApp investment groups and a deceptive trading application named ‘BR Nova’. In a separate incident reported simultaneously, a resident of Pushkar suffered an unauthorized bank withdrawal amounting to ₹7.80 lakh, highlighting the growing menace of digital financial crimes across the district.
Psychological Grooming and the ‘BR Nova’ App Trap
According to formal complaints lodged at the Cyber Police Station, the primary victim, Varnika Singhal, a resident of Foysagar Road, was targeted due to her prior experience in stock market futures and options trading. The operation began with an unsolicited WhatsApp call from an individual identifying himself as Hardik Doshi. Singhal was subsequently added to messaging groups titled ‘VIP Elite History Makers’ and ‘Elite VIP Group’, where participants posted continuous claims of extraordinary daily stock market returns.
To facilitate investments, the fraudsters instructed Singhal to download a bespoke application called ‘BR Nova’. Initially, Singhal transferred smaller tranches of ₹80,000, ₹90,000, and ₹1 lakh into bank accounts designated on the platform. The application interface displayed immediate capital growth, mirroring real-time market profits. To cement her trust, the operators allowed a trial withdrawal of ₹1.08 lakh on July 15, convincing her of the platform’s authenticity.
Financial Escalation and Inclusion of Family Members
With her confidence secured through the initial payout, Singhal escalated her investments significantly, transferring ₹7.50 lakh on July 16 and an additional ₹12.51 lakh on August 3. As the digital dashboard continued to show exponential paper gains, Singhal encouraged her husband, Archit Singhal, along with her sister, Kriti, and brother-in-law, Nayan Garg, to participate in the lucrative opportunity.
The relatives deposited substantial sums from their respective bank accounts, with Archit transferring individual amounts of ₹10 lakh and ₹8.40 lakh across multiple dates. In total, the family cumulatively transferred ₹50.70 lakh into the syndicate’s controlled accounts. The scheme unraveled when the family initiated withdrawal requests for their principal capital and purported profits. Instead of processing the payout, the fraudsters blocked access and demanded supplementary fees under the guise of processing charges and administrative clearances. Recognizing the extortion loop, the family lodged a complaint via the national cybercrime helpline 1930.
Simultaneous Unauthorized Cyber Theft in Pushkar
In a secondary case registered at the same police station, Gopal Ram Tanwar, a resident of Banseli village in Pushkar tehsil, reported a loss of ₹7,80,866 from his savings account at ICICI Bank on Collectorate-Kachhari Road. Tanwar alerted authorities after receiving multiple debit notification messages on August 14 showing rapid unauthorized withdrawals.
Although Tanwar rushed to the bank branch to place an emergency debit freeze on his account, the perpetrators had already siphoned off the funds through rapid digital transactions. Investigators are analyzing transaction logs to determine whether the funds were routed through compromised UPI endpoints or automated IMPS payment gateways.
Digital Trail and Financial Forensics Underway
Cybercrime officers in Ajmer have registered First Information Reports under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act for both incidents. Investigative teams are currently analyzing bank account statements, Unified Payments Interface handles, and Instant Payment Service records associated with the fraudulent transactions.
Police are working in coordination with banking institutions to freeze secondary account layers and track the immediate movement of siphoned capital. Investigators are also conducting forensic evaluations of the ‘BR Nova’ application server, IP routing logs, and WhatsApp communication trails to uncover the identities of the operators managing the investment network.
