For over a year, the name Govind Bankaya Dantri lingered on police watchlists, tied to one of Maharashtra’s most significant cyber fraud cases. Known by his aliases—Honey Bhaiya, Lucky, and Ashu Paji—the 40-year-old accused had evaded investigators since 2024. His attempt to slip out of the country ended abruptly this week, when immigration officials in Bihar detained him at the India–Nepal border following a Look Out Circular.
A Fraud Built On Illusion
Investigators say Dantri constructed a convincing fake mobile application that imitated a leading brokerage platform. Using the app, he allegedly persuaded a retired chief engineer from Punjab to invest in what appeared to be legitimate share trading. Enticed by promises of extraordinary returns, the victim ultimately lost ₹6 crore, money that was siphoned into multiple accounts and partly converted into cryptocurrency to obscure the trail.
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Earlier Arrests, Limited Recovery
Dantri’s arrest comes months after police apprehended five accomplices from various states, recovering ₹46 lakh in the process. But the broader network and the majority of the stolen funds remained beyond reach. For investigators, Dantri was not just another suspect; he was the linchpin of the operation. His absence had slowed progress, leaving questions about how deeply the fraud extended.
Broader Lessons In Cybersecurity
Officials describe the case as a stark warning about the sophistication of cybercrime. Fraudsters are no longer relying on crude scams but are instead building highly polished digital tools that mirror legitimate services. Law enforcement agencies argue that public awareness and timely reporting are as critical as technological safeguards. Dantri’s capture, they say, not only closes a chapter in one fraud but also highlights the urgent need to strengthen defenses against a rising wave of cyber-enabled financial crimes.