The Delhi Police Crime Branch has apprehended a key figure in a sophisticated interstate fraud network that exploited the allure of Bollywood and foreign exchange deals to cheat victims across major Indian cities. The accused, 31-year-old Krishna Kumar Sharma, was arrested in Delhi's Kiran Garden, Uttam Nagar, on Sunday, December 8, 2025, after a coordinated operation.
The Elaborate Con: From Five-Star Hotels to Fake Film Deals
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Harsh Indora, Sharma masterminded a gang that operated with remarkable audacity. To build credibility, the gang would book rooms in luxury hotels and create elaborate setups. Accomplices posed as bouncers, makeup artists, and other staff to mimic a legitimate film or business environment.
Sharma falsely presented himself as a film industry professional, convincing victims he could arrange meetings with Bollywood actors for upcoming projects. In one 2023 case, he allegedly cheated a woman of Rs 45 lakh with promises to arrange a star's signing. For forex traders, he offered favourable currency exchange deals. Victims were persuaded to hand over foreign currency, after which gang members would exit through alternate routes, fleeing with the cash.
Pan-India Crime Spree and Arrest Details
Sharma, a resident of Rishra in West Bengal's Hooghly district, was a wanted man in multiple cities. A case was initially registered against him at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station in Kolkata, leading to an arrest warrant issued by the chief judicial magistrate on December 6. He had been evading capture since.
The breakthrough came when Sub-Inspector Anuj Chhikara received a tip-off about Sharma's planned visit to Kiran Garden. After technical surveillance confirmed his location, a trap was laid, and he was apprehended on December 8. His associate, Saurabh, had already been arrested by the Kolkata police.
Sharma faces charges under sections 318(4), 319(2), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in a case where a complainant was induced to part with $15,000 and 1,000 euros (approx. Rs 14.5 lakh) for a fake forex deal. Police records indicate his involvement in at least four other cases in Mumbai's Amboli and Vakola areas, and one at Delhi's Connaught Place.
Modus Operandi and Background of the Accused
The gang's operations were marked by high mobility and secrecy. They travelled frequently by air, paid for everything in cash, and used multiple mobile phones, SIM cards, and internet-based calling apps like Zangi. Police also recovered information suggesting the use of chilli spray and chloroform during their crimes.
Investigations reveal a stark contrast between Sharma's education and his criminal path. Born in Kolkata in 1994, he graduated with a BCom (Hons) from Calcutta University in 2016. He founded an event management company, Ace Entertainment, and even produced a music video with a major label in 2019. However, police state that heavy losses during the COVID-19 pandemic led him to turn to large-scale fraud, targeting traders and business owners in metro cities.
In a previous 2023 case at Connaught Place, complainant Shivam Pandey alleged that while collecting money from Sharma, he was given a spiked drink, lost consciousness, and woke up to find a bag containing $25,000 missing. Sharma was arrested in that case but was out on bail.
The arrest underscores the challenges posed by tech-savvy, interstate fraud rings that exploit common aspirations and business dealings. The Delhi Police's cross-city coordination was crucial in bringing the alleged mastermind to book.
