The Enforcement Directorate’s Srinagar office in Jammu and Kashmir has provisionally attached Rs 16,86,465 as proceeds of a cyber fraud scheme targeting innocent victims. The funds were generated through a deceptive digital arrest operation.
The attached amount, held in an HDFC Bank account under M/s Jeevika Foundations, was operated by Gaurav Kumar, involved in a sophisticated cyber fraud racket. The ED’s action follows an investigation into a cyber fraud case initiated based on a police complaint.
The investigation uncovered a scheme where individuals impersonated officials from agencies like TRAI and CBI to deceive citizens. Victims were falsely accused of money laundering linked to national security, leading them to transfer funds under coercion. A significant sum was fraudulently obtained and transferred to the account of M/s Jeevika Foundations.
A portion of the defrauded amount has been refunded, but Rs 16,86,465 remains traceable in the foundation’s account, identified as proceeds of crime under the PMLA. The Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached this amount under the relevant legal provisions as part of its crackdown on financial crimes involving asset creation through regulatory violations.
