Surat Cybercrime Police have apprehended two individuals from Ahmedabad, including a woman named Kailash Bhanderi (46), in connection with a Rs1.5 crore cyber fraud targeting a senior citizen. The fraud involved scaring the victim with threats of a “digital arrest,” alleging his involvement in money laundering.
The victim, a senior citizen from Surat, was contacted by fraudsters posing as officers from the Delhi Crime Branch, CBI, and RBI. Claiming suspicious transactions in his bank account, they coerced him into transferring Rs1.5 crore to various accounts, promising the funds would be returned within 48 hours if he was innocent. When the money was not returned, the victim filed a complaint on March 3.
Kailash Bhanderi allowed her bank account to be used by a co-accused, Hussain from Muzaffarabad, Uttar Pradesh, in exchange for a commission of Rs2 lakh. Bhanderi sent Riddhesh Antala (30) to Muzaffarabad to deliver bank account documents, for which Antala received Rs22,000.
After Rs25 lakh was transferred to Bhanderi’s account, Hussain withdrew the funds and paid her the agreed commission. The police are investigating further to trace the remaining accused and recover the defrauded amount.
In a related case, an investor from Surat was cheated of Rs60 lakh after being promised high returns in the share market. Police arrested Vikram Bhavsar (38) from Ahmedabad for allowing his bank account to be used to receive the fraud amount. Investigations continue.
