Bhubaneswar: The Cyber Police in Bhubaneswar have arrested Malayalam telefilm producer-actor Prasad Balan (49) alias Kichu for orchestrating an inter-state cyber fraud scheme.
Police sources said that Kichu, posing as a prominent film producer, lured people into fraudulent investment schemes by promising high return through virtual gold bidding through fake trading apps – https://www.perthmint-bid.com and https://www.perthmint-jewellery.com.
He also ran advertisements for part-time job offers to trap job seekers.
Kichu was apprehended from Kerala during a joint operation was carried out with the Kerala Police, on the basis of a complaint lodged by one Deepak Nayak of Bhubaneswar, defrauded of over Rs 54 lakh. several incriminating documents, including multiple bank passbooks, PAN cards, and passports, were seized from his possession.
Investigation revealed that he engaged in such fraudulent activities in at least 10 states and used the money to fund his ventures in the film and entertainment industry.
