Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, May 31: In a major breakthrough, Delhi Police arrested two alleged cyber fraudsters with suspected Chinese links for duping a retired army colonel of Rs 41.45 lac through a bogus digital gold trading scheme.
The accused, identified as Indra Kumar Sahani and Rahim Khan, were nabbed from Ahmedabad following a complaint lodged by the retired officer, a resident of Vasant Kunj. The officer was lured into investing via a fake online platform that promised lucrative returns in dollar-based gold trading.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Surendra Choudhary, Khan, the suspected key operator, was in direct touch with Chinese nationals through a messaging app. “He coordinated with multiple account holders across India and brought them to hotel rooms in Ahmedabad, from where the scam was run,” said the DCP.
Police said Khan installed special applications on mobile devices linked with SIM cards registered to Indian bank accounts. These apps gave foreign handlers remote access, allowing them to conduct illicit fund transfers. The scammed money was converted into USDT, a cryptocurrency, and routed abroad to bypass Indian authorities.
The fraud unfolded when the retired colonel, after being contacted via social media, made initial investments and saw his supposed profits multiply rapidly on a fake trading dashboard. Lured by the soaring virtual returns, he poured in a total of Rs 41.45 lac. When he attempted to withdraw the returns, he was asked to deposit another Rs 31.5 lac as tax at which point he realized he had been duped.
Following a complaint, a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered. The digital trail led investigators to a hotel in Ahmedabad where Sahani was arrested. Three smartphones with incriminating data were seized from him. Interrogation of Sahani led to the arrest of Rahim Khan and the recovery of two more phones.
Police said Sahani initially opened a personal bank account, but later created nine additional current accounts and sold access to the scam network for commission. “This case has helped uncover a wider web of cyber fraudsters and account operators with international ties,” said the DCP, adding that further investigation is underway to trace more victims and collaborators.