The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch apprehended a new member of an inter-state gang involved in extorting victims through fake astrology and “kinnar guruma” profiles on Instagram. Vikas Bhargav, from Bikaner, Rajasthan, was arrested in Jaipur and brought to Ahmedabad. The Cyber Crime Branch secured four days’ remand for further investigation after presenting him in court.
Police previously arrested Rajnish Bhargav, another accused from Bikaner, while a third member, Ravi Bhargav, remains at large. These arrests were part of the “Mission Cyber Rakshika #SecureHerSpace” initiative by Ahmedabad City Police, aimed at safeguarding women from cyber crimes and online exploitation. The gang allegedly operated by impersonating astrologers and relationship experts on social media to deceive individuals facing personal issues.
According to officials, the gang manipulated victims into sharing personal information and photos, which were later edited and used for blackmail. The accused coerced victims into revealing sensitive details during WhatsApp video calls and threatened to circulate compromising material unless payment was made. The gang is suspected of defrauding over 65 individuals, with around 300 mobile numbers contacted in the past month alone.
Investigators discovered that the gang targeted women and men aged 18 to 35 through Instagram’s ad boosting feature. The accused ran online advertisements focusing on topics like ‘love problems’ and astrology to attract potential victims. Multiple Instagram and Facebook accounts associated with the gang, such as “astrologer_pooja_kinnar_maa” and “astrotalk_with_bheravlal,” are currently under scrutiny. The Cyber Crime Branch issued a warning advising the public to be cautious of social media ads related to astrology and to refrain from sharing personal information with unknown individuals.
