Hyderabad: In an unprecedented move, Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have named the head of Google India as a co-accused in three cyber fraud cases after victims alleged they were duped through fraudulent stock market investment apps downloaded from the Google Play Store.The three complainants, who claimed to have lost between Rs 7 lakh and Rs 24 lakh, alleged that they trusted the apps because they were available on Google’s official app marketplace. Based on their complaints, police have invoked provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the alleged fraudsters as well as the Google India head.When TOI checked the three app links cited in the complaints, only one remained accessible.“We have booked the Google India head as a co-accused based on the specific complaints of the victims. Notices have been issued to Google directing it to remove the fraudulent applications. If the app is removed, the intermediary is exempt from liability and will not be charged. However, if it is not removed without a valid reason, the company also becomes an accused under Section 79(3) of the IT Act,” a Hyderabad Cyber Crime officer said.Google India did not respond to TOI request for comments till late on Monday.On July 15, a 69-year-old resident of Santoshnagar filed a complaint alleging that he lost Rs 24 lakh in a fake stock market investment scheme.According to the complaint, he came across a Facebook advertisement on May 20 featuring Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman purportedly endorsing an investment opportunity that promised returns of Rs 22 lakh a week. After clicking the advertisement, he was contacted on WhatsApp by a woman identifying herself as Dia Zian.“She made me install the One***ma***ts app from the Google Play Store, claiming it was licensed and regulated by South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority. Acting on her instructions, the complainant transferred Rs 24.37 lakh to multiple bank accounts during May and June 2026.When he later sought to withdraw his investment, the money was awithheld. In his complaint, the victim alleged that the fraudulent app’s availability on the Play Store contributed to his loss and sought legal action against Google for allegedly failing to exercise due diligence before hosting the application.Police registered a case against Dia Zian and Aneesh Mathew, who allegedly posed as representatives of the investment platform, along with the Google India head. The FIR invokes Sections 66-C and 66-D of the IT Act and Sections 318(4) (Cheating), 319(2) (Cheating by personation), 336(3) (Forgery), and 340(2) (Using a forged document or electronic record as genuine) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on July 15.In another case registered on July 14, a 40-year-old govt employee from Adibatla alleged that he was cheated of more than Rs 17 lakh through a fake Fi****e Securities Platform.The complainant told police that he received a WhatsApp message on May 12 from a woman identifying herself as Ananya Kulkarni, who claimed to represent a company offering stock market investment services, IPO strategies and AI-based investment opportunities.He was allegedly instructed to download the F**L Smart app from the Google Play Store through a link shared by the accused. Between May 12 and June 16, he transferred more than Rs 17 lakh, including money borrowed through personal loans, to multiple bank accounts.“I took personal loans and transferred over Rs 17 lakh to different bank accounts provided through the app between May 12 and June 16,” the victim said. Although the app reflected profits of Rs 41.7 lakh, the accused allegedly demanded additional payments before permitting withdrawals. The complainant said he realised he had been defrauded only after repeated demands for more money.He also alleged that Google failed to exercise due diligence in allowing the fake application on the Play Store. Based on his complaint, police booked Ananya Kulkarni, Gul Tekchandani and the Google India head under provisions of the IT Act and the BNS.In the third case, a 71-year-old retired govt employee from Erragadda alleged that he lost Rs 7 lakh after investing through a fraudulent stock market application, DS**, which he downloaded from the Google Play Store.According to the complaint, two individuals identifying themselves as Swarnali and Avishek contacted him on WhatsApp and persuaded him to invest through the application.Police have registered a case on June 30 against the two alleged fraudsters as well as the Google India head.
