Odisha Crime Branch Arrests Delhi Woman For Rs 87 Lakh Investment Fraud

Bhubaneswar: The Cyber Crime Unit of the Odisha Crime Branch arrested a woman from Delhi in connection with an investment fraud amounting to Rs 87 lakh.

Based on a complaint lodged by a victim from Sailashri Vijar area of Bhubaneswar, the cyber police had launched a probe into the fraud and arrested the woman.

The arrested accused, identified as Vandana Bawa of South Delhi, will be brought to Odisha by the Crime Branch sleuths on a transit remand after producing her in a court in the national capital.

The police have seized several articles, including a mobile phone, two SIM cards, an Aadhar card and a PAN card, the Crime Branch said.

The complainant, an employee of a private firm, was added to a WhatsApp group named ‘101 Stock Discussion Group’ by an individual who identified himself as a professor. The victim was assured of getting stock trading tips, IPO guidance and investment strategies from the WhatsApp group, police said.

The fraudsters later persuaded the victim to deposit around Rs 87 lakh in various bank accounts in several installments. They promised the victim of high returns from the investment.

The complainant, later, realised that he had been duped by the fraudsters and lodged a complaint in this regard with the Cyber Crime Unit of the Crime Branch.

During investigation, the cops have frozen several bank accounts of the fraudsters and recovered Rs 10 lakh.

The arrested accused has been involved in two more cyber crime incidents in Kerala and Gujarat. Further investigation is in progress.