logo
Transnational lottery scam busted in Delhi; six, including 2 Nigerians, held

Transnational lottery scam busted in Delhi; six, including 2 Nigerians, held

News1820-07-2025
New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) Delhi Police has claimed to have busted a transnational cheating syndicate operating in Delhi-NCR with the arrest of six people, including two Nigerians, an official said on Sunday.
Police said that the accused were defrauding Indian citizens through fake lotteries, gifts, and prize schemes. The gang, active for several years, lured unsuspecting victims into transferring large sums of money to fraudulently created bank accounts in exchange for non-existent rewards.
The accused have been identified as Shahid Raza (45), Shahrukh Khan (23), Vikas (25), and Rakesh alias Lalu (22). They worked with two Nigerians — Shedrack Onainor (29) and Sunday John alias Liberty (40).
Vikram Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), said the syndicate's operation came to light after specific inputs were received on July 7 regarding a group of fraudsters operating out of Delhi, cheating people through fraudulent online lottery and gift schemes.
'Acting on the input, a team launched a surveillance operation. During the operation, Shahid Raza was apprehended from Punjabi Bagh in Delhi, while in possession of Rs 3.63 lakh in cash, nine ATM cards and a mobile phone containing incriminating data. His interrogation revealed a deep-rooted network involving both Indian and foreign nationals of Nigerian origin," said the DCP.
Subsequent raids led to the arrest of Shedrack Onainor from Khanpur in Delhi, while he was allegedly collecting the cheated money. Onainor was found to have been illegally residing in India since 2018. He overstayed his medical visa. Incriminating digital evidence was also recovered from his possession.
Based on disclosures made by Raza and Onainor, further arrests followed — Shahrukh Khan, Raza's son-in-law; Vikas and Rakesh, brothers from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh; and Nigerian national Sunday John, who had overstayed his business visa since 2024.
'Teams seized multiple mobile phones, Aadhaar and PAN cards, cheque books, passbooks, and other items linked to the cheating racket," he added.
Sharing the modus operandi of the accused, police said that they adopted a well-coordinated system. 'The Nigerian handlers — Onainor and Sunday — acted as masterminds, luring victims through fake online lottery and prize announcements. Once a victim transferred money into designated accounts, the Indian accomplices managed its withdrawal and delivery," the DCP said.
Shahid Raza and Shahrukh Khan handled cash operations. Raza withdrew funds using ATM cards and delivered cash to the Nigerian accused after retaining a 15 per cent commission. Shahrukh, meanwhile, managed UPI-based transfers using online applications and oversaw the activation and operation of fake accounts.
Rakesh and his brother Vikas played a key role in account fabrication. They used forged Aadhaar documents with updated Delhi-based addresses and fake SIM cards. They opened nearly 20 bank accounts under the name of Vikas across different banks. These accounts were later used to route fraudulent transactions. Another friend allegedly facilitated the Aadhaar updates without valid documents or verification, DCP added.
'The ATM cards linked to these accounts were handed over to Shahrukh and Shahid. Shahrukh generated UPI IDs and managed digital fund transfers. Withdrawals were executed by Shahid, who then handed over the cheated funds to Shedrack and Sunday John at various designated spots in Delhi, often travelling by autorickshaw," DCP Singh said.
Police said the commission system was also structured. Out of the 15 per cent cut from the withdrawn funds, 5 per cent went to Rakesh and Vikas for arranging the accounts and SIMs (3 per cent to Vikas, 2 per cent to Rakesh), while the rest was kept by Shahid and Shahrukh. Payments were made in cash or through online methods.
According to the police, among the seized items were 10 mobile phones, Rs 3.63 lakh in Rs 500 denomination notes, multiple Aadhaar and PAN cards, cheque books, and bank passbooks.
Sharing the profile of the accused, police said that Shedrack Onainor, originally from Delta State, Nigeria, came to India in 2013 on a medical visa that expired in 2018. He stayed on illegally and engaged in cheating operations. He was the main link between the Indian recruits and his Nigerian co-conspirators.
Shahid Raza, a resident of Bareilly, UP, previously worked in Saudi Arabia and later sold fruits in Delhi. He entered the racket around eight years ago to support his family, lured by the promise of a 15 per cent commission.
Shahrukh Khan, Raza's son-in-law, was educated up to class 7. He was influenced by villagers in Bareilly who were involved in similar frauds. Vikas is a class 6 dropout from Bareilly and previously worked as a tailor in Ghaziabad. Rakesh alias Lalu is uneducated and works as a painter and polisher. He helped his brother Vikas with Aadhaar forgery and account creation.
top videos
View all
Sunday John alias Liberty, a Nigerian national, entered India on a business visa in 2023, which expired in 2024. He stayed on illegally and became a key member of the racket. He routinely collected money from Shahid and Shahrukh and shared the illicit proceeds with other Nigerian co-conspirators.
'All six have been remanded to judicial custody," police said. Further investigation is underway. PTI BM HIG
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

ED conducts first-ever raids in Andaman & Nicobar Islands linked to cooperative bank 'fraud'
ED conducts first-ever raids in Andaman & Nicobar Islands linked to cooperative bank 'fraud'

New Indian Express

time27 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

ED conducts first-ever raids in Andaman & Nicobar Islands linked to cooperative bank 'fraud'

PORT BLAIR: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday conducted its first-ever searches in Andaman and Nicobar Islands as part of a money laundering case probe linked to an alleged cooperative bank loan 'fraud' involving a former MP from the Union Territory, official sources said. The case pertains to the Andaman Nicobar State Cooperative Bank (ANSCB) and its vice chairman Kuldeep Rai Sharma. Sharma, a 57-year-old Congress leader, is a former MP of the UT (2019-24). Nine places in and around Port Blair and two in Kolkata were raided by the officials of the central probe agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said. This is the first time that the agency has undertaken searches in the Union Territory located in the Bay of Bengal, they said. Sources said the agency has recovered some documents pointing towards "large-scale" irregularities in the grant of loans and overdraft facilities by ANSC Bank. The role of former Congress MP Sharma is also under the scanner of the ED, according to the sources. They alleged that a group of about 15 entities/companies were created by suspects for the benefit of Sharma and loan facilities of more than Rs 200 crore were fraudulently taken by these entities from the ANSCB. The sources said documents collected indicate that loan facilities were extended to various shell companies/ firms by ignoring the laid down procedures and guidelines of the bank. The money laundering case stems from an FIR of the Crime and Economic Offences Wing of the Andaman Nicobar Police.

First ever ED raid in Andaman: Searches on at nine places in Port Blair related to alleged cooperative bank fraud
First ever ED raid in Andaman: Searches on at nine places in Port Blair related to alleged cooperative bank fraud

Mint

time27 minutes ago

  • Mint

First ever ED raid in Andaman: Searches on at nine places in Port Blair related to alleged cooperative bank fraud

Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has conducted its first ever search operation on 31.07.2025 in the Andaman Nicobar Islands in the Andaman Nicobar State Cooperative Bank (ANSCB) fraud. Searches are being conducted at 9 places in and around Port Blair and 2 places in Kolkata. the course of searches at Port Blair, various incriminating documents have been recovered pointing towards large scale irregularities in the grant of loans and overdraft facilities by ANSC Bank. Evidence collected so far indicates that loan facilities were extended to various shell companies/ firms by ignoring the laid down procedures and guidelines of the bank. have also revealed that a group of around 15 entities/ companies were created by suspects for the benefit of Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Ex-MP of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and loan facilities amounting to more than Rs. 200 crores were fraudulently taken by these entities from the ANSCB. It has also been revealed that a substantial portion of these loans were withdrawn in cash and have been paid to the beneficiaries including the Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Ex-MP. It is worth mentioning here that Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Ex-MP is also the Vice-Chairman of the Andaman Nicobar State Cooperative Bank. initiated investigation in the case on the basis of FIR registered by Crime & Economic Offences, Andaman Nicobar Police against various private persons and officials of the bank. (This is a breaking story, more updates coming…)

‘There can be no Hindu terrorists': BJP leaders hail Malegaon verdict
‘There can be no Hindu terrorists': BJP leaders hail Malegaon verdict

Hindustan Times

time27 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

‘There can be no Hindu terrorists': BJP leaders hail Malegaon verdict

BJP leaders on Thursday welcomed the 2008 Malegaon blast verdict, which acquitted all seven accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur. Mumbai: Former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur leaves the special NIA court after a hearing on the 2008 Malegaon blast case, in Mumbai, May 8, 2025. (PTI Photo) (PTI05_08_2025_000100B)(PTI) Speaking to ANI, BJP MP from Gorakhpur, Ravi Kishan, expressed sympathy for the accused and their families. 'We don't know whether to be happy or sad. My sister, Sadhvi Pragya, used to sit next to me in Parliament. Her entire body is paralysed. What must the accused and their families have gone through, having faced such false allegations... Who will return those 17 years?' Ravi Kishan said. 'The Congress, which coined the term 'Bhagwa Terrorism', must answer. They are all accountable... They have to answer to 100 crore Hindus — with what proof did they start speaking of 'Bhagwa Terrorism'? Who was the mastermind behind this narrative?... The Home Minister said it yesterday, and it has been proven today that a Hindu cannot be a terrorist... We will demand an answer in Parliament on the use of the term 'Bhagwa Terrorism',' he added. Pragya Singh Thakur, a former BJP MP, was among the seven acquitted by the special NIA court in Mumbai in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Special NIA Judge AK Lahoti said that there was no "cogent and reliable" evidence to justify a conviction. The court observed that the prosecution "has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt." The blast, which occurred on September 29, 2008, near a mosque in Malegaon, Maharashtra, claimed six lives and left around 100 injured. What did the court say about the alleged 2008 bike blast? Judge AK Lahoti, while delivering the verdict, stated that the prosecution could not establish that the bomb was placed in the specific motorcycle, according to ANI. 'The bike allegedly involved in the blast did not have a clear chassis number. Prosecution could not prove that it was in (Pragya Thakur's) possession immediately before the blast,' the court observed. Commenting on the investigation, the court noted significant lapses, saying, 'No sketch of the spot was done by the investigation officer while doing the panchnama. No fingerprint, dump data or anything else was collected for the spot. The samples were contaminated, so the reports can't be conclusive and are not reliable.' Regarding co-accused Lt Colonel Shrikant Prasad Purohit, the court said, 'There is no evidence of storing or assembling the explosives in Shrikant Prasad Purohit's residence,' leading to his acquittal as well. On the applicability of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the court ruled that it could not be invoked in this case, stating, 'Sanction was not taken as per rules.' It further remarked, "Both the sanction orders of the UAPA in the case are defective." The court also found inconsistencies in the reported number of injured, concluding that it was 95 and not 101 as previously claimed. It mentioned irregularities in medical documentation, noting 'manipulation in some medical certificates.' The case had been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2011, after initially being investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). All accused had been out on bail prior to the verdict.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store