Ahmedabad: ‘Love guru’ held for extortion, fraud

Ahmedabad: Cybercrime police have uncovered an online racket where the main accused allegedly posed as a "love guru" and astrologer to target people facing relationship problems and extort money out of them.The accused, Rajnish Bhargava, 23, was arrested in Bikaner within a week of the case being registered. Police said he created multiple fake Instagram profiles and introduced himself as "Pooja Kinnar Guruma," falsely claiming to be a eunuch and astrologer. According to investigators, Bhargava projected himself as a spiritual figure offering rituals to resolve marriage and relationship issues. A senior cybercrime branch officer said he used the fake identity to gain the trust of emotionally vulnerable individuals before charging them for rituals. The police said the accused and his associates used Facebook and Instagram ads to contact hundreds of users daily. Victims were allegedly charged between Rs 3,000 and Rs 15,000, depending on the ritual promised. During these exchanges, victims were persuaded to share personal details and photographs on the pretext of conducting rituals."The accused stayed in touch with the victims through multiple mobile numbers and gradually collected sensitive material. The fraud later turned into blackmail," an officer said. Victims were allegedly asked to join video calls for so-called purification rituals, which were recorded and later used to extort more money. In one instance, a complainant transferred Rs 1.43 lakh through multiple transactions. Police estimates suggest the group may have collected between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 50 lakh over the past two to two and a half years. The case has been registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Two other suspects, Vikas Bhargava and Ravi Bhargava, are absconding.Police said efforts are underway to trace them and identify more victims. Investigators also said the accused used voice modulation and avoided showing his face during video calls to maintain the fake identity. The cops added that victims' trust and hesitation delayed reporting in several cases.
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