Six Arrested in ₹2.68Cr Dubai-Linked Scam on Ex-IAF Officer

Indian police have arrested six men and dismantled a Dubai-linked cyber fraud network that allegedly defrauded retired Air Marshal T.S. Chatwal of ₹2.68 crore through a fake online investment scheme. The arrests followed a months-long investigation by Gurugram Cyber Crime Police.

The victim was lured through fraudulent WhatsApp groups impersonating well-known companies and a mobile app promising high returns on stock market investments. A complaint was lodged on January 30 and handed to the special cyber crime unit in Sector 56, Gurugram.

How the Scam Operated

The gang created fake WhatsApp groups designed to look like official investment channels. Victims were added, encouraged to download a fraudulent trading app displaying fictitious profits, and persuaded to transfer increasingly larger sums. Money was routed through multiple bank accounts before being sent to a syndicate in Dubai. Police described it as a “second-layer network” supplying bank accounts for routing cyber fraud proceeds.

The Mule Account Factory

Puneet Chaudhary, 27, rented a flat in Omaxe City, Bahadurgarh, for ₹17,000 a month. From there, the group created shell companies, forged documents, set up fake email addresses, and opened bank accounts for the overseas syndicate. Police allege Puneet alone supplied more than 200 bank accounts, with the accused earning around 5 percent commission per transaction. Investigators linked the recovered accounts to at least 12 cyber fraud complaints across India, including six in Rajasthan, two in Telangana, and two each in Jharkhand, Kerala and Karnataka.

The Dubai Connection

Puneet Chaudhary's passport contained four immigration stamps showing travel to Dubai between 2023 and 2026. He told investigators he worked with a Dubai-based handler identified as “Rudra,” providing an address where five to six others were allegedly conducting cyber fraud. The network operated in layers: Sonu Chaudhary, 23, provided his bank account to Puneet, who collected accounts on instructions from Samrat Sibbal, 46, a Delhi operative, who supplied them to the fraudsters.

The Raid and Evidence

Police raided Omaxe City, Bahadurgarh, on July 19, 2026, arresting Puneet, Abhishek Sharma (23), Vikas (22), and Dushyant Chaudhary (25) at the scene. Sonu Chaudhary and Samrat Sibbal were apprehended from Ghaziabad and Delhi. Seized items included three laptops, 16 mobile phones, 90 ATM cards, 42 cheque books, 33 SIM cards, stamps of four firms, and Puneet's passport. Investigators traced ₹6 lakh to a joint Indian Overseas Bank account held by Sonu Chaudhary and Akash Soni.

What Comes Next

The six accused have been remanded to two days of police custody as investigators trace the money trail and identify other syndicate members. The case highlights a growing pattern of fraudsters using encrypted messaging, fake trading apps, and layered financial infrastructure. Police urge the public to verify any investment platform before transferring funds.