NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has busted a cross-border money laundering racket involving cryptocurrency, with links to Pakistan-based cyber fraud handlers, following the arrest of two criminals from the Samaypur Badli area on October 2.
According to DCP (Outer North) Hareshwar Swami, the key accused is Ritik, alias Bomb (22), a designated “bad character” at the Kapashera police station, and a known associate of the Gogi-Sonu Kharkhari gang. The second accused, Chandan (19), is also a history-sheeter.
Police said Ritik was involved in serious crimes including robbery, culpable homicide, and Arms Act violations. Beyond his criminal record, Ritik played a pivotal role in facilitating cryptocurrency transactions with Pakistani nationals.
“Ritik was in contact with at least six Pakistani handlers via social media using international numbers,” said DCP Swami.
These handlers ran fake loan apps and cyber extortion scams, targeting Indian citizens. Victims were tricked into paying money to UPI accounts linked to Indian crypto traders—identified as Rahul Gujjar, Yash, and Akash. Ritik received screenshots of the transactions and used the equivalent amount to purchase cryptocurrency, mainly USDT (Tether), which he then transferred to wallets managed by the Pakistani group.
Ritik received a commission for each transaction, effectively acting as a crypto broker for cybercriminals abroad.
These funds were proceeds from cyber fraud, particularly:
Fake loan applications
Data extortion threats
Digital blackmail schemes
The network’s Indian end used front accounts and UPI handles, while the international handlers controlled anonymous crypto wallets, making tracking difficult.
Ritik has been part of the Kranti Gang since his juvenile years under slain gangster Rajesh Bharti, and later continued operations under Sonu Kharkhari—a key figure in Delhi’s organised crime landscape.
Ritik was released from jail in March 2025, but continued to work as a link between local cyber operatives and Pakistani syndicates, police said.
Further investigation is ongoing, and officials are probing the involvement of other Indian crypto traders in this laundering chain.
