In a shocking case of familial cyber fraud, Delhi Police’s Cyber Cell has arrested 25-year-old Shivam Sharma for allegedly embezzling Rs 26.32 lakh from his father’s bank account over four months.
Shivam, a BA graduate and former BPO employee, was taken into custody on October 25, following a detailed investigation led by Inspector Subhash Chandra under the supervision of ACP Anil Sharma.
Police said they recovered 100 grams of gold and froze Rs 3 lakh in Sharma’s HDFC Bank account. The victim, a 68-year-old former parking operator at Azadpur Mandi, had limited digital literacy and had entrusted his stepson with managing his finances.
Investigators allege that Shivam exploited this trust to orchestrate a calculated digital fraud. On March 23, while his father attended the funeral of his first wife, Shivam reportedly stole the SIM card linked to the bank account, created a fake UPI ID, and purchased gold coins via Amazon and Flipkart, hiding them in a wall-mounted almirah. Approximately Rs 6 lakh was routed through cyber café operators, who were offered commissions of up to 10%. Shivam later destroyed the SIM card and his mobile phone to cover his tracks.
In a further act of deception, Shivam reportedly helped his father file a cybercrime complaint, feigning ignorance. Police believe the motive was family resentment, as Shivam, the son from his father’s second marriage, felt sidelined after the family parking business was handed to his elder stepbrother.
Initially denying the charges, Shivam eventually confessed during interrogation, leading to the recovery of stolen assets. Police say the case highlights the growing link between domestic disputes and cyber-enabled financial crimes, with further investigation ongoing.
