The Odisha Police’s Crime Branch has arrested Vandana Bawa, a woman cybercriminal from Delhi, in connection with an investment fraud worth Rs 87 lakh. Bawa, a South Delhi resident, was apprehended on Tuesday and is now in transit remand, being brought to Odisha following approval from a local court in Saket, New Delhi.
According to Crime Branch sources, the victim, a private company employee from Sailashree Vihar in Bhubaneswar, was added to a WhatsApp group named “101 Stock Discussion Group.” The group was purportedly run by an imposter who posed as a Professor, promising stock trading tips, IPO guidance, and investment strategies.
The fraudsters, using these false promises, convinced the victim to register on two fake web links. The victim, believing the offers were legitimate, went on to invest approximately Rs 87 lakh in various bank accounts of the fraudsters, including those at IndusInd Bank, PNB, and other financial institutions, across multiple transactions.
The investigation, led by Additional SP Ritesh Kumar Mohapatra, focused on analyzing transaction details and digital evidence, eventually leading the team to New Delhi. Upon verifying details in the area, the police successfully identified and arrested Bawa. They also seized various incriminating items, including a mobile phone, two Indian SIM cards, an Aadhaar card, and a PAN card.
In addition, the police froze several bank accounts associated with the fraudsters, and Rs 10 lakh was refunded to the victim. The investigation revealed that Bawa’s account was linked to similar cybercrime cases in Kerala and Gujarat, and authorities are intensifying their probe into other accomplices and the broader scope of the scam.
The Odisha Police are working to trace the full extent of the fraud’s money trail and its impact across multiple states, as they continue to dismantle the cybercriminal network.
