On April 25, the Cyber Police of the West Region apprehended three individuals, including a BTech student, for allegedly scamming a businessman out of Rs 15 lakh through a stock market-related cyber fraud. The suspects have been identified as Vipul Patne (28) from Nagpur, Shivam Prasad (26) from Chhattisgarh, and Anmol Kumar Shahi (20), also from Chhattisgarh and currently pursuing a BTech degree.

During the operation, police confiscated cheque books and ATM cards linked to 25 bank accounts opened under various identities. Authorities also seized 15 SIM cards, three smartphones, and numerous identification documents, including Aadhaar and PAN cards.

According to investigators, the accused misled victims by promising lucrative returns through online stock trading. Vipul Patne was the first to be detained, and further investigation revealed the involvement of Shivam Prasad and Anmol Kumar Shahi. Prasad and Shahi were instrumental in opening fraudulent bank accounts, often by approaching individuals and persuading them to hand over personal documents. In return, the trio offered Rs 10,000 for opening a savings account and up to Rs 15,000 for a current account.

The case came to light when businessman Jasbir Singh lodged a complaint with the Cyber Police Station on April 5. In his FIR, Singh explained that the accused convinced him to invest in online trading by providing him with a login ID and password to a virtual trading platform. They also directed him to install an app and perform trades through it. Singh transferred money into several bank accounts for the supposed purchase of shares, ultimately losing Rs 14.95 lakh in the process.