Three additional individuals have been arrested in connection with a June online investment scam in which a Noida Sector 27 resident was defrauded of ₹3.26 crore, officials from the Cyber Crime Police said on Thursday. With these arrests, the total number of people apprehended in the case has risen to 12.
The latest suspects have been identified as Sunny Kumar, 22, from Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow; Durgesh Kumar, 23, from Banthra, Lucknow; and Vikas Kumar, 27, from Soharamau, Unnao. The arrests were made in Lucknow and Unnao on October 7.
“Three accused have been arrested who received the fraud-related funds in their bank accounts and took undue advantage of it. Previously, nine other suspects were arrested. Further legal action is being taken,” said Additional DCP (Central Noida) Shavya Goyal.
The case dates back to June 12, when the Noida resident approached the Cyber Crime Police Station alleging that he had been contacted by individuals posing as employees of an investment firm, promising high returns. Following the complaint, a probe was launched, and the bank accounts linked to the fraud were frozen.
Police said that the main suspect, Sunny Kumar, and his aides fraudulently received ₹23 lakh from the complainant. Sunny later withdrew the money and handed it to his associate, Vikas Kumar, in Delhi, who is currently on the run. Vikas then returned ₹1 lakh to Sunny, who distributed portions of the remaining funds among the two newly arrested co-suspects, Durgesh and Vikas Kumar.
The case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the IT Act, including Section 66D, which penalises “cheating by personation” using digital means.
