Doctor Falls Victim to Mewat Sextortion Gang, Two Arrested [Delhi, India]

(Reported as seen)

In a distressing incident of cybercrime, a 71-year-old doctor from Delhi became the target of a sophisticated sextortion operation conducted by a gang based in Mewat. The culprits, identified as Mahfuz, 39, and Aamir Khan, 26, both hailing from Deeg district in Rajasthan, have been arrested by the police, with efforts underway to apprehend additional members of the gang.

The gang’s modus operandi involved recording compromising videos of the doctor during a WhatsApp video call, followed by demands for extortion money under the threat of releasing these videos on social media platforms. Succumbing to the pressure, the doctor ended up paying approximately Rs 8.60 lakh to the extortionists.

Investigations revealed that the gang’s criminal activities extend beyond this single incident, with links to 25 other cases of cyber fraud across various states including Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, in addition to four cases from Delhi itself. This discovery was made possible through the analysis of bank account transactions connected to the accused individuals.

The arrest of Mahfuz and Aamir Khan was a significant breakthrough in the case, initiated by the Delhi Police’s East District team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Apoorvas Gupta. During the investigation, it was found that the extorted money was transferred to several bank accounts across Haryana, Punjab, and Maharashtra, all of which were opened digitally without proper Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, solely for the purpose of receiving the extorted funds.

The investigation also involved tracking the call detail records of the suspects, leading the police to the Mewat area in Rajasthan where the gang members were located and subsequently arrested.

The recovery of two objectionable videos from the mobile phone of Aamir Khan marks a crucial piece of evidence in the case. The police are now focusing on uncovering the full extent of the gang’s network, including accomplices, bank account holders, and individuals involved in withdrawing the extorted money.

This case highlights the growing menace of cybercrime in India, underscoring the need for increased vigilance and robust cybersecurity measures to protect individuals from such malicious activities.