Bengaluru / Wayanad: The Wayanad Cyber Crime Police have arrested Ashkar Ali (30), a resident of Vengappally, in connection with an online trading fraud that defrauded a Delhi woman of nearly Rs 4 lakh. Ashkar Ali is a member of a larger cyber fraud gang that promised profits through online trading via Telegram groups.
Police revealed that Rs 1.5 lakh of the stolen money was transferred to the account of Vishnu, a resident of Vythiri, who later withdrew around Rs 3.5 lakh via cheque and handed it over to Ashkar Ali. Vishnu had already been arrested earlier in the case.
Investigations show that Ashkar Ali had deceived several others through similar scams. Following Vishnu’s arrest, Ashkar fled to North India and later reached Bengaluru. Acting on a tip-off, a Wayanad cybercrime team, led by Inspector Shaju Joseph under the supervision of the Wayanad District Police Chief, apprehended Ashkar Ali in Bengaluru.
Police said the accused’s phone contained bank account details of multiple victims, indicating the widespread nature of the scam. The investigation is ongoing to identify additional accomplices and recover misappropriated funds.
Ashkar Ali was produced before the Kalpetta CJM court and remanded. The arrest team included ASI K. Razak, P. Haris, SPO Joji Looka, and Civil Police Officer Jineesh.
