The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch apprehended a man from Bikaner, Rajasthan, and charged two others for operating an Instagram-based extortion ring. The suspects masqueraded as relationship advisors and spiritual healers, enticing women with promises of resolving love and marriage issues through rituals before coercing them with explicit content. Rajnish Bhargava, one of the accused, was arrested after a woman reported being defrauded of Rs 1,43,951 through multiple transactions. The remaining suspects, Vikas Bhargava and Ravi Bhargava, are currently evading authorities.
The group managed various Instagram accounts, including one under the guise of an astrologer named “Pooja Kinnar Guru Ma.” This fabricated identity aimed to deceive vulnerable individuals seeking assistance with personal and marital dilemmas. Operating on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, the accused targeted women through advertisements and direct messages, offering solutions via rituals and “vashikaran.” By gathering victims’ personal information and coercing them to share photos under the pretext of performing rituals, the group obtained compromising material for extortion purposes.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Lavina Sinha stated that the suspects engaged with approximately 300 women daily on social media, catering to 60 to 65 clients per day for various rituals. The extortion scheme involved charging between Rs 3,000 and Rs 15,000 for services offered. The gang, active for about two-and-a-half years, amassed an estimated Rs 40-50 lakh through illicit activities. Investigations revealed multiple bank accounts associated with the operation, with transactions totaling around Rs 60 lakh, some linked to cyber fraud cases in different states.
Authorities registered a case at the Cyber Crime Police Station, citing relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. A combination of technical analysis and human intelligence facilitated the identification of Instagram accounts, mobile numbers, and financial channels involved in the fraud. The primary accused was apprehended within a week of the complaint, with efforts ongoing to locate the absconding suspects and identify additional victims associated with the network.
