Delhi Police busted a Rs 50 lakh investment fraud connected to a Chinese network and arrested one individual from Uttarakhand, an official said on Tuesday.
According to police, the case was registered following a complaint by Shikha Gupta, who claimed she was cheated out of ₹2.9 lakh on the pretext of investing in a foreign company.
Police said the fraudsters enticed her with fake profit screenshots and later asked for more money, which raised her suspicions.
During the investigation, the money trail led to a bank account where Rs 50,000 had been deposited as part of the initial layer of the laundering process.
“The KYC and email details associated with the account helped police trace a mobile number used by the accused,” said Prashant Gautam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara).
Following an analysis of bank transactions, IP logs, and chats on a messaging app, police carried out raids in Uttarakhand and arrested Rajib Dutta, a resident of Kolkata, West Bengal.
“An iPhone 13 was recovered from his possession, containing incriminating chats that revealed coordination with Chinese nationals and conversations related to account credentials, transactions, and commissions,” the DCP said in a statement.
The officer added that digital evidence indicates the involvement of a larger cross-border network operating through multiple layered bank accounts and encrypted communication platforms.
Police said efforts are ongoing to trace other associates, follow the money trail, and identify the masterminds behind the operation.