Key Takeaways
- Delhi woman scammed of INR 7 lakh via fake police verification call
- Fraudsters used century-old Angadia banking system to launder money
- Three suspects arrested across Gujarat and Jharkhand
- Police still searching for Angadia courier who carried the cash
Delhi Police have uncovered a sophisticated cybercrime operation where fraudsters used the traditional Angadia banking system to launder INR 7 lakh stolen from a nursing officer. Three suspects have been apprehended across multiple states, but the cash carrier remains missing.
The Elaborate Scam
Debjani Das Choudhary, a nursing officer at a Delhi government hospital, received a call from someone posing as a police officer. The caller claimed her name appeared in a money laundering case linked to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal and instructed her to transfer money for “verification.” Unaware of the scam, she sent INR 7 lakh to accounts provided by the fraudsters.
During the investigation, DCP (West) Sharad Bhaskar revealed that the scammers had placed Debjani under WhatsApp video surveillance under the guise of investigation, duping her into transferring the amount.
Angadia System Exploited
Delhi Police cyber investigators pursued the case for months and discovered the fraudsters were using the century-old Angadia system – an informal courier network traditionally used by jewellers and traders to move valuable items including cash.
Inspector Vikas Buldak’s team found that Debjani’s INR 7 lakh was split: 30% transferred to a Muthoot Gold Loan account in Jharkhand and 70% to an SBI account in Surendranagar, Gujarat.
Money Trail and Arrests
The digital trail stopped without further crypto or fund transfers. However, CCTV footage from a Gujarat bank branch showed a man withdrawing the entire amount via self-cheque. He was identified as Soyebbhai Multani, a 24-year-old tractor salesman who became the first major lead.
Police discovered that Soyebbhai and his elder brother Aslambhai, who ran a local business, allegedly offered “mule accounts” to fraudsters for a 2-4% commission – amounting to INR 14,000-28,000 in this case.
Investigators found that Angadia networks, built on trust within trading families, were used to transfer lakhs without formal banking traces. The brothers were arrested along with Jitender Kumar in Jharkhand, with police seizing three mobile phones and five SIM cards.
Ongoing Investigation
The Home Ministry’s cybercrime portal has received 14 similar complaints spanning multiple states, all using the same Angadia transfer method. DCP Bhaskar confirmed that technical investigation helped identify and arrest those involved in the mule account arrangement.
Police continue to trace the missing cash and the Angadia courier who carried it, highlighting how traditional systems are being exploited for modern cybercrimes.
