The Cyber Crime Branch of Pune Police has successfully arrested a woman involved in a high-profile cyber fraud that resulted in the loss of Rs4.06 crore from a well-known Pune-based construction businessman. The accused, Saniya alias Guddiya Muhammad Mustakim Sahab Siddiqui, was apprehended in Gopalganj, Bihar, after evading capture for several months.
The scam took place in February when the businessman was abroad for work. The fraudsters, posing as the businessman, sent a fake WhatsApp message to the company’s accountant, claiming an urgent need for funds. The message instructed the accountant to transfer the requested amount to a specified bank account. Without verifying the message with the employer, the accountant transferred ₹4.06 crore to the fraudsters in multiple installments.
The fraud was discovered only when the businessman returned to India and noticed the unauthorized transactions. A complaint was immediately filed with the Pune Cyber Crime Branch, leading to an investigation.
Saniya had been on the run since then. Using technical analysis of her mobile phone, police initially traced her to Kota, Rajasthan. However, she managed to flee, which led to the suspension of six police officers who had been part of the operation. Despite her efforts to hide her location, investigators later tracked her movements to Delhi, and further intelligence placed her in Gopalganj, Bihar.
A dedicated police team, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivek Masal, traveled to Bihar despite harsh winter conditions. With the help of local informants, they located her residence. Upon realizing the police were closing in, Saniya attempted to flee by jumping from the terrace of her house, but was swiftly arrested before she could escape.
Investigations are ongoing, and authorities are working to apprehend other members of the fraud gang involved in the ₹4.06 crore scam.
