Buxar: Cybercrime police in Gujarat’s Dahod district have busted an interstate fraud racket accused of duping people through fake stock market investments and arrested alleged mastermind Shailesh Kumar Lalan Mishra, 27, from Buxar.The case began after Jhalod resident Pritamkumar Kantubhai Sangada was added to a WhatsApp group, ‘India Republic Venture’, on June 18. Members shared trading tips and fake profit screenshots before persuading him to download the ‘BR Nova’ investment app.After an initial Rs 20,000 investment showed a Rs 1,291 profit, Sangada transferred Rs 10 lakh to accounts provided by the fraudsters. The app showed his investment and purported earnings at over Rs 12 lakh, but he was asked to deposit another Rs 2 lakh when he sought withdrawal.Police traced Rs 4 lakh to an account held by Pandey Traders in Buxar and arrested three account holders on Sept 29.Investigators said the account was used for transactions worth around Rs 1 crore. Police also seized suspicious applications allegedly used to intercept bank OTPs.Mishra was arrested on Oct 15. His alleged associates Shivesh Singh, Vishwas Kumar Singh and Hardik Doshi are still at large.
