New Delhi: In an shocking breach of trust, Delhi Police sub-inspector Ankur Malik allegedly siphoned off Rs 2 crore from cyber fraud recoveries and vanished with fellow officer and his romantic partner Neha Punia.
The duo, both from the 2021 batch, took a seven-day “medical leave” and never returned, instead, they embarked on a luxury tour across Goa, Manali, and Jammu and Kashmir, as per a report by NDTV.
Malik, posted at Cyber Thana in Delhi’s North-East district, reportedly misused court orders by submitting fake complainants’ details to release the seized money. The funds were then funnelled into the accounts of his acquaintances, police said. Meanwhile, Punia, posted at GTB Enclave, disappeared the same day, triggering suspicion.
Affair, Fraud and Fake Identities
Investigators soon discovered that both officers were married to other people and had been romantically involved since 2021. Their carefully planned fraud allegedly began around the same time, as per the NDTV report. After dodging authorities for four months, the two were finally arrested in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where they intended to start a new life using forged identities.
From the couple’s possession, police recovered gold worth Rs 1 crore, 11 mobile phones, three ATM cards, a laptop, and several other items.
Cash Turned into Gold to Evade Detection
Three more individuals, Mohammad Ilyas, Aafi alias Monu, and Shadab, were also arrested for allowing their bank accounts to be used in the laundering operation. Malik reportedly believed the money would go unclaimed, making it easier to manipulate the system.
To avoid detection, Malik exchanged large sums for gold after arriving in Indore. Both officers are now under interrogation.
