GURUGRAM: Social media influencer Balwant alias Bobby Kataria, who has been arrested in a human trafficking case, had sent 33 people abroad on the pretext of helping them get jobs, police said here on Friday.
He said Kataria was arrested by Gurugram police on Monday and after his three-day police remand ended, he was produced in the city court on Friday and sent to judicial custody.
Police had earlier recovered Rs 20 lakh in cash and four mobile phones from his possession. He said that during police remand, two more mobile phones and nine passports were seized from Kataria.
"Katariya confessed that he used to cheat people by luring them with jobs abroad and after going abroad, the victims were forced to commit cyber fraud," a senior police officer said.
Kataria, along with his partner Manju Singh, who has not been arrested yet in the case, used to post job vacancies in foreign countries through their social media handles. They also extorted some amount from the victims, the office said.
"Katariya had opened offices in Gurugram including Sikar (Rajasthan), Great Faridabad and Nabha (Punjab) and they have sent 33 people abroad so far, of which 12 have been sent to Armenia, 2 to Singapore, 4 to Bangkok, 3 to Canada And 12 T Laos,” said Sub-Inspector Pramod Kumar, the investigating officer of the case.
"Of those sent to Laos, five have returned while seven are still there," Kuma said.
ACP (Crime) Varun Dahiya said Kataria, who has over 3 lakh followers on Instagram, was in touch with Ankit Shokeen, who is living in Laos and was asking the accused to send people there.
"We have sought details of Kataria's bank accounts. He was sent to jail today while further investigation is underway. The other accused will be arrested soon," he said.
He said Kataria was arrested by Gurugram police on Monday and after his three-day police remand ended, he was produced in the city court on Friday and sent to judicial custody.
Police had earlier recovered Rs 20 lakh in cash and four mobile phones from his possession. He said that during police remand, two more mobile phones and nine passports were seized from Kataria.
"Katariya confessed that he used to cheat people by luring them with jobs abroad and after going abroad, the victims were forced to commit cyber fraud," a senior police officer said.
Kataria, along with his partner Manju Singh, who has not been arrested yet in the case, used to post job vacancies in foreign countries through their social media handles. They also extorted some amount from the victims, the office said.
"Katariya had opened offices in Gurugram including Sikar (Rajasthan), Great Faridabad and Nabha (Punjab) and they have sent 33 people abroad so far, of which 12 have been sent to Armenia, 2 to Singapore, 4 to Bangkok, 3 to Canada And 12 T Laos,” said Sub-Inspector Pramod Kumar, the investigating officer of the case.
"Of those sent to Laos, five have returned while seven are still there," Kuma said.
ACP (Crime) Varun Dahiya said Kataria, who has over 3 lakh followers on Instagram, was in touch with Ankit Shokeen, who is living in Laos and was asking the accused to send people there.
"We have sought details of Kataria's bank accounts. He was sent to jail today while further investigation is underway. The other accused will be arrested soon," he said.
