A 29-year-old fisherman from Kerala has been arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly defrauding a retired Army Colonel of over Rs 18.8 lakh in a foreign exchange (forex) investment scam, officials said on Saturday.
The accused, Sreejith Rajendran, a resident of Azheekal in Kerala’s Kollam district, was apprehended from his hometown after an extensive investigation.
The police said the man, who studied till Class X and worked as a fisherman, was drawn into the fraud racket by a friend who showcased a luxurious lifestyle funded through illicit means.
Driven by greed, Sreejith joined the syndicate that had already duped multiple victims across India. Earlier this year, another accused in the same case — Sunil from Jodhpur — was arrested. The alleged mastermind, Anandhu Lal from Kollam, remains absconding.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Harsh Indora, the victim, a retired Army Colonel, was first contacted in December 2023 by a woman posing as “Cute Arvin Anghita.” Through unsolicited messages and phone calls, she persuaded him to invest in the forex market with promises of substantial returns.
“Gradually, the victim was tricked into transferring Rs 18,80,818 in multiple instalments. When he attempted to withdraw his supposed earnings, he was asked to make additional payments on the pretext of processing fee,” said DCP Indora.
A case was registered on August 31, 2024, under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. During investigation, the police traced the trail of money through several bank accounts — many of which were opened using fake identities and contact information.
One transaction, amounting to Rs 5.93 lakh, led investigators to a bank account in Oachira, Kollam, held by Sreejith. The funds were withdrawn in cash the same day.
Following the lead, a police team was dispatched to Kerala, and Sreejith was arrested from Azheekal.
