Kinnar Maa Rip-off 2nd accused held in pretend astrology blackmail case

The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Department has arrested a second accused within the interstate pretend astrology blackmail racket and uncovered suspicious monetary transactions value practically Rs 60 lakh linked to the gang over the previous two years. Greater than 65 individuals are believed to have fallen sufferer.Vikas Bhargav was arrested from Jaipur and  produced earlier than court docket which despatched him to police custody for 4 days. The prime accused, Ravi Bhargav, is absconding.

How the entice labored
DCP Cyber Crime Department Lavina Sinha stated the gang manipulated victims into WhatsApp video calls and coerced them into showing on digicam. The calls had been secretly recorded and the footage was used for blackmail and extortion.
In some instances, obscene photos had been despatched utilizing WhatsApp’s “One View” mode to accentuate threats and psychological stress.The gang operated below the guise of astrology, non secular therapeutic, pujas and vashikaran rituals, utilizing pretend Instagram and Fb profiles posing as astrologers, eunuchs and non secular gurumas. Victims in search of assist for amorous affairs, marriage disputes and private issues had been focused. As soon as they shared images for purported rituals, the accused morphed the pictures and threatened to make them viral on social media until cash was paid. Within the current case, the gang extorted a minimum of Rs 1,43,951 by a number of on-line transactions.

Accounts and accused
Utilizing Instagram’s commercial boosting, the gang focused customers aged 18-35 with advertisements about astrology, love issues and relationship points, reaching emotionally distressed people throughout totally different states. Inside one month, investigators discovered practically 300 cellular numbers had been contacted.The Cyber Crime Department had earlier arrested Rajnish Bhargav from Bikaner in Rajasthan, the primary accused within the case. Instagram accounts below investigation embody “astrologer_pooja_kinnar_maa”, “astrotalk_with_bheravlal”, “kinnargurumatasushilaji”, “acharya_vikasshastri”, “aghoribalaknath”, “kinnar_maa_santoshdevi”, “dishank_sashtri” and “astro_surya_prakash_shastri”. Fb pages “Om Mahakal Jotyshi” and “Kinnar Maa Santosh Devi” had been additionally used by sponsored ads. The operation was a part of Mission Cyber Rakshika #SecureHerSpace, launched to guard girls from cyber crimes and digital blackmail.
The Cyber Crime Department urged residents to not share private images or data with unknown people on-line.  Victims could contact helpline 1930 or strategy the closest police station.