Duped Over Crypto Riches: Ambala Man Swindled of ₹13 Lakh by Cousin and Associates
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In a startling case of family betrayal and digital currency fraud, a resident of Mochi Mandi in Ambala Cantt was defrauded of ₹13 lakh (₹1.3 million) after being lured with false assurances of overnight riches through cryptocurrency trading. The victim, identified as Deepak, found himself trapped in a coordinated financial scheme allegedly masterminded by his cousin, his cousin's wife, and a close business associate. After facing complete inaction and procedural delay at the local police station, Deepak escalated the matter directly to senior Haryana Cabinet Minister Anil Vij at his public grievance durbar. Taking immediate cognizance of the brazen financial fraud, the minister ordered the Ambala Superintendent of Police (SP) to register a criminal FIR and initiate swift prosecution against the suspects.
The Web of Deceit: High-Pressure Pitches on Nicholson Road and False Wealth Displays
According to the official complaint, the accused orchestrated an elaborate, multi-stage operation to break Deepak’s initial resistance:
Relentless Solicitation: Deepak's cousin Manoj, an active cryptocurrency trader, repeatedly approached him with promises of outsized profits from virtual token trading, despite Deepak's initial refusal to participate in volatile markets.
Coordinated Coercion: Manoj escalated his persuasion tactics by bringing Deepak to his commercial office situated along Nicholson Road in Ambala Cantt, where an associate named Nikhil applied heavy pressure to secure capital commitment.
Fabricated Profit Testimonials: To completely dissolve skepticism, Manoj invited Deepak to his residence, where Manoj's wife corroborated the claims, boasting of astronomical personal gains and fabricating stories of multi-million returns generated through their proprietary trading channels.
The Wire Transfer: Convinced by his extended family's apparent financial success, Deepak transferred ₹13 lakh from his bank account into Manoj's account in November 2024 to initiate his investment portfolio.
Sudden Evasion, Account Manipulation, and Erasure of Digital Evidence
The reality of the scam emerged rapidly once the funds cleared into the perpetrators' custody:
Vanishing Returns and Hostile Behavior: As soon as the capital was received, the accused cut off meaningful communication, abruptly altered their conduct, and refused to disburse any trading gains or principal capital.
Surreptitious Cash Laundering: Under the pretext of portfolio rebalancing, the accused routed around ₹12 lakh back through Deepak's bank account only to immediately withdraw it as liquid cash, misusing his account to obscure their audit trail.
Covering Digital Tracks: Exploiting personal trust during family meetings, the accused accessed Deepak’s smartphone without consent and deliberately deleted incriminating transaction messages, chat threads, and financial records.
Minister Anil Vij Orders Swift Police Intervention After Local Inaction
Frustrated by prolonged police inertia after lodging formal complaints with local authorities, the victim sought administrative intervention:
Grievance Redressal Before Anil Vij: Confronted with systemic stonewalling at the local precinct, Deepak presented his case before Minister Anil Vij, highlighting the financial devastation and continuous threats from the accused.
Direct Instructions to Ambala SP: Minister Vij immediately issued stern directives to the Ambala Superintendent of Police, mandating an uncompromising criminal investigation.
FIR Registered at Cantt Police Station: Acting promptly on the minister’s explicit order, the Ambala Cantt police station registered a formal First Information Report (FIR) naming Manoj, his wife, and their accomplice Nikhil under applicable sections for criminal breach of trust, fraud, and digital tampering.
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