The operation was uncovered after extensive technical surveillance and human intelligence mapping conducted by cybercrime investigators, which led authorities to suspects operating from Rajasthan.
According to police officials, the gang systematically created fraudulent profiles on popular platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Using deceptive identities including “astrologer pooja kinnar maa” and “acharya vikasshastri,” the accused posed as spiritual consultants claiming to resolve sensitive personal issues related to love, marriage, and family disputes. By exploiting emotional vulnerability, they gained the trust of individuals seeking personal guidance.
Once contact was established, the accused persuaded victims to share personal photographs under the pretext of conducting sacred rituals and so-called “vashikaran” practices. These images were later manipulated and used to blackmail victims with threats of public exposure.
Investigators further revealed that several victims were coerced into compromising situations during live video calls. The accused secretly recorded these sessions through screen capture techniques and subsequently used the explicit material to extort money through repeated digital transactions.
Financial and digital forensic analysis confirmed the scale of the operation, showing fraudulent transactions amounting to approximately Rs 60 lakh across multiple bank accounts over a two-year period.
In the final month before the crackdown, the gang reportedly contacted nearly 300 mobile numbers, with preliminary findings confirming that at least 65 individuals were directly victimized. To expand their reach, the accused also used paid social media advertising tools, precisely targeting users aged between 18 and 35 who showed interest in astrology and relationship counseling.
Police arrested the primary accused, Rajnish Govindlal Bhargav, from Bikaner. Another accused, Vikas Pokhraj Bhargav, was subsequently detained in Jaipur, and has been remanded to police custody for four days for further interrogation. A third accused, Ravi Satyanarayan Bhargav, remains absconding, and efforts are ongoing to trace and apprehend him.
Following the exposure of the racket, Ahmedabad City Police issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain cautious of social media advertisements promising supernatural solutions to personal problems. Authorities strongly warned against sharing sensitive images, videos, or private information with unverified online individuals, emphasizing the growing sophistication of digital extortion networks.
The case highlights the escalating misuse of social media platforms for organized cyber exploitation, underscoring the urgent need for digital vigilance and stronger preventive awareness among users.
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