Srinagar, October 09: Two advocates and another individual have been arrested in Srinagar in connection with a cyber fraud case involving a fake stock trading app and WhatsApp groups.
According to Kashmir Dot Com, the arrests were made by the Gurgaon Cyber Police, and the accused were produced before the City Judge/JMFC Srinagar, which granted a transit remand for further investigation in Haryana.
The case pertains to FIR No. 325, registered on September 6, 2025, at Cyber West Police Station, Palam Vihar, Gurgaon, under Sections 318(8), 319, and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023. The complainant, Ravi Dutt Sharma, alleged that he was defrauded of over ₹1.9 crore after being added to a WhatsApp group promoting a stock investment scheme promising high returns. The investments were made through a fake app called “Stocks Nuama Pro”, and attempts to withdraw funds were blocked with repeated demands for additional fees.
The arrested persons have been identified as Advocate Shahnawaz Akhtar, resident of House No. 30, Irfan Colony, Natipora, Srinagar, alleged to be the main conspirator; Advocate Suhale Ashraf, resident of Village Khummoh, Lasjan, PS Panthachowk, District Srinagar, accused of facilitating fraudulent transactions amounting to over ₹1.22 crore from the complainant; and Rameez Ahmad Khan, resident of VPO Arath, PS Solibugh, District Budgam, who allegedly handled the transfer and siphoning of funds.
Court documents indicate that the accused may have defrauded additional victims, and further investigation is underway. The court, after reviewing the police application, found sufficient grounds to authorize the transit remand from Srinagar to Gurgaon, allowing police to continue investigations while ensuring the safety of the accused during transfer. (KDC)
