Delhi Police Summons Rhea Chakraborty In HIBOX Case; Questioning On Oct 9

Delhi Police's IFSO wing has summoned Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty in relation with a fraudulent app-based scheme that swindled people out of ₹500 crore. The investigating agency has asked Rhea Chakraborty to present before them for question on October 9.

In the similar case, Delhi Police also slapped notices to comedian Bharti Singh and YouTuber Elvish Yadav.

The police received over 127 complaints alleging that numerous social media influencers and YouTubers endorsed the mobile application named HIBOX on their platforms. This promotion allegedly enticed people to invest in the app, stated DCP (IFSO) Hemant Tiwari. The app was part of a scam promising daily returns between one to five percent, translating to 30% to 90% monthly.

App Launch and Investor Experience

HIBOX was introduced in February. Initially, investors enjoyed substantial returns. However, starting July, the app stopped payments, citing technical issues and legal complications as reasons for withholding funds. "Over 30,000 individuals invested in this application," added the DCP.

Notices were also sent to influencers such as Saurav Joshi, Abhishek Malhan, Purav Jha, Harsh Limbachiya, Lakshay Choudhary, Adarsh Singh, and Amit and Dilraj Singh Rawat. The main suspect in this case is Sivaram from Chennai. He has been arrested with ₹18 crore seized from four of his accounts.

Investigation into Financial Institutions

The police are currently examining the roles of Easebuzz and Phonepe as merchant accounts used by the fraudsters behind HIBOX. They are also investigating their employees' involvement due to non-compliance with verification processes and bypassing RBI guidelines.

Additionally, authorities have identified 20 other companies linked with HIBOX in money laundering activities. The investigation continues as they delve deeper into these connections.

This incident highlights the risks associated with blindly following influencer endorsements without proper research. It serves as a reminder for individuals to exercise caution when investing in unfamiliar platforms or schemes.