In a significant crackdown on online financial fraud, the cyber police arrested two individuals — Santosh Kumar Tanti (30) and Sapna Baghela Pandey (25) — for allegedly allowing fraudsters to use their bank account to route Rs55 lakh under the guise of a digital marketing firm.
Originally from Dhanbad (Jharkhand) and Siwan (Bihar) respectively, the duo was staying together in a rented flat in Versova, Andheri. Their arrest followed a complaint filed by a senior citizen, who was duped of Rs55.41 lakh between January 21 and February 20, 2025, by fraudsters posing as representatives of a reputed stock brokerage firm on WhatsApp.
The victim was lured into a fake trading group, encouraged to invest in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), and directed to use a fraudulent trading link that mimicked a legitimate platform. Initially investing Rs2 lakh, the victim was tricked into believing he earned high virtual returns. As confidence grew, he continued transferring larger amounts across multiple accounts.
The investigation revealed that Rs13 lakh from the defrauded funds had been deposited into a joint bank account operated by Tanti and Pandey. Upon tracing the account to their Versova residence, the police took them into custody. A mobile phone was also seized during the arrest.
During interrogation, the accused admitted to setting up the account under the pretense of running a digital marketing firm, and knowingly receiving fraudulent funds. They also confessed to facilitating fund transfers through a third suspect, Ajay Rath, who is believed to be based in Delhi. His identity is still under verification.
A formal arrest notice under Section 47 of the Indian Civil Protection Code was issued, and a notification was sent to their contact Jagdish Pratap Sanichar Prasad Singh under Section 48.
Authorities urge the public to exercise caution, especially when approached with investment opportunities over WhatsApp or unknown portals. “Verify before you invest,” said a senior official, stressing the rise of online impersonation and financial fraud.
