Bhubaneswar: The Cyber Crime Unit of the CID, Crime Branch Odisha has arrested one person in connection with a high-stakes online trading investment fraud amounting to ₹1.4 crore.
The arrest was made in Hyderabad, Telangana, following a cross state investigation spanning Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
According to an official press release, the accused, identified as Amanullah Khan (34), son of Hasidullah Khan, had ₹27 lakh traced to his bank account, which was part of the defrauded amount. He and his associates allegedly posed as professional trade analysts, deceiving the victim with false promises of high returns through investments in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), stock shares, and Over-the-Counter (OTC) trading.
A Bhubaneswar-based complainant reported to the Cyber Crime Police Station on January 13 this year that he had been conned by unidentified cyber fraudsters.
Between November 13, 2024, and January 1, 2025, the victim was lured into transferring ₹1.4 crore through multiple transactions.
Despite incurring early losses, the fraudsters manipulated him into investing further, only to later block his attempts to withdraw funds—demanding additional payments and refusing to return the original amount.
Upon receiving the complaint, the Cyber Crime Unit launched a detailed investigation, analyzing transaction records and digital footprints. The trail led them to Hyderabad, where Amanullah Khan was apprehended. He was produced before the Special Judicial First-Class Magistrate at Gandhi Bhawan, Nampally, Hyderabad and later brought on transit remand to Odisha, where he was presented at the SDJM Court, Bhubaneswar.
The accused has been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2), 61(2), and 3(5)—along with Sections 66-C and 66-D of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The investigation team has also seized incriminating materials including mobile phones, SIM cards, Aadhaar and PAN cards, bank passbooks, and debit cards. Efforts are underway to identify other accomplices, trace the pan-India network behind the scam, and map the complete money trail.
The Crime Branch has urged citizens to remain vigilant against unsolicited investment offers on social media and messaging platforms. Officials advise verifying the authenticity of any such schemes and immediately reporting suspicious activity to the Cyber Helpline 1930 or the nearest police station.
