'Baseless': Chhattisgarh IPS officer on ₹1 cr bribery charge in cyber-fraud case

Rahul Bansal, a 2022 batch Indian Police Service officer stationed in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district, has denied allegations of accepting ₹1 crore in bribes to resolve a cyber-fraud case. Bansal, alongside assistant sub-inspector Praveen Kumar Rathore and constable Anshul Sharma, faces charges related to the case, which originated from an alleged fraud of ₹21.15 lakh in share trading. According to Bansal, the complaint is being reviewed by a court, and he expressed his trust in the judicial process. The case was registered in July 2025 at Surguja’s Cyber Police Station after investigations uncovered an organized gang believed to have operated initially from Dubai and later moved to India. This group allegedly used social media ads to lure victims into investing money via fake trading platforms. Bansal stated that during the inquiry, it became evident that the gang had manipulated financial flows through a fintech company, converting fraudulent proceeds into cash and routing them through hawala networks. Investigations revealed approximately ₹1,880 crore in cryptocurrency transactions over four months, which were reportedly tied to the gang's operatives. As of now, 23 individuals have been arrested from eight different states, and five detailed charge sheets, each spanning thousands of pages, have been submitted to the court, accompanied by digital evidence. Bansal reiterated that he is implicated in the case together with Rathore and Sharma. A special court in Delhi has requested action taken reports from both the Chhattisgarh Police chief and the Central Bureau of Investigation director. The complainant, Ravi Mohan Goswami, has provided alleged WhatsApp chats and call recordings as supporting documents. The complaint claims that the ₹1 crore bribe was transferred through hawala channels in two installments of ₹50 lakh each in May 2026. These allegations stem from the ongoing investigation of the cyber-fraud case registered in Surguja. Goswami alleges that he was defrauded of ₹21.15 lakh through 84 online transactions. He was reportedly tricked into investing in stock market and forex trading through online platforms. What started as a complaint involving ₹21.15 lakh has evolved into an alleged complex cyber-fraud scheme involving fake trading platforms, overseas call centers, mule bank accounts, fintech payment gateways, dummy companies, hawala channels, and cryptocurrency transfers. The Chhattisgarh Police confirmed that the investigation targeting the alleged masterminds and other members of this network is still ongoing. Charge sheets indicate that the fraud was presented to victims as a legitimate investment business. Callers, including those based in Dubai, contacted potential investors and convinced them to invest in platforms such as MoneyTrade365, SmartTrade365, and VTFX, which were purportedly designed to resemble real trading applications. One of the charge sheets mentioned a software tool allowing operators to manage trading points, withdrawals, and account access. When victims tried to withdraw their money, their accounts might be frozen or they would be informed of a software issue. In certain instances, small sums were allegedly returned to investors to foster confidence and encourage further investments. Telemarketing played a crucial role in the operation. Some accused individuals are alleged to have worked from Dubai, contacting potential victims and persuading them to invest through these fake platforms. One alleged caller operated under a handler and reached out to victims through Money Trade 365, while another was reportedly hired by the suspected masterminds and received monthly payments ranging from ₹35,000 to ₹40,000. Inspector general Deepak Jha mentioned that they have identified Anshul Ginotra and Garvit Jain among the suspects.