Himachal Crypto Scams Defraud Rs 2,000 Crore in 3 Years: CM

As a seasoned crypto investor with roots deeply entrenched in the Himalayan valleys of Himachal Pradesh, I find myself both alarmed and amused by the recent revelations of massive crypto scams in our region. Having been lured by the allure of high returns, I too have dipped my toes in the cryptocurrency waters, albeit with a healthy dose of skepticism.


In Himachal Pradesh, India, cryptocurrency scams have defrauded investors of at least Rs 2,000 crore over the past three years, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reported on Thursday. 

In a meeting of the legislative assembly, Sukhu revealed that 89 people were apprehended and 20 First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed due to these fraudulent activities. Out of the substantial amount stolen, the state police have successfully retrieved Rs 11,36,000 for six affected individuals.

The Chief Minister stated that a total of 89 individuals have been taken into custody, and numerous charge sheets have been submitted against them. These arrests were made as part of investigations into 20 separate cases, which are currently being handled by Special Investigation Teams.

In a major scam, involving bitcoins and affecting around one hundred thousand individuals in the state, the swindle amounted to an astounding 174 billion Indian rupees. These unfortunate victims were lured by various cryptocurrency websites and coins, alluring them with the prospect of substantial returns.

Subhash Sharma, who is considered the main organizer of the crime, has not been caught yet and is thought to be in Dubai. His associate Milan Garg was arrested in Kolkata on July 17. The police have been informed of over 400 cases of this scam from districts such as Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, and Kangra.

To combat the rising issue of cybercrimes, the Himachal Pradesh Police is considering establishing Integrated Cyber Extended (ICE) Stations in nine districts currently lacking dedicated cyber police stations.

Currently, just three cyber units are available in the districts of Mandi, Kangra, and Shimla to handle cybercrime complaints. Over the past five years, the daily number of complaints has grown significantly from 11 to 44. Additionally, approximately 248 calls are received each day at the centralized helpline number 1093 for cyber-related issues.

As a researcher, I’ve observed that the High Court in Shimla has made a ruling which advises against filing First Information Reports (FIRs) concerning lost funds recovery cases. This decision stems from the challenges faced by the police in managing each case independently due to their complexity and potential interconnections.

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2024-09-06 10:12