NEW DELHI: A 60-year-old has been arrested for allegedly spearheading a scam that had scammed at least Rs 2.5 crore out of about 45 people under the guise of being a cryptocurrency promoter.
Defendant Umesh Verma, a greeting card maker and jeweler was arrested at Indira Gandhi International Airport by the Delhi Police Economic Crimes Wing upon his arrival from Dubai, after he was unable to justify the cryptocurrency launched by him.
“The complainants alleged that the defendant Umesh Verma, together with his son Bharat Verma and others had induced them to invest in the cryptocurrency scheme that operated under the name and style of ‘Pluto Exchange.’ They assured the complainants a fixed return between 20 percent to 30 percent per month on your investment in Pluto Exchange Crypto Currency, “police said.
The defendant opened his office in the Connaught Place area in November 2017 and operated as a checking fund scheme. Police said the defendant hosted his own website and connected the ‘Pluto Exchange’ app for the sale and purchase of his new cryptocurrency launched in the name of ‘COIN ZARUS’, assuring people to invest under the pretext of giving higher profits. .
However, the promised returns were sold out and the post-dated checks issued to them were dishonored and Umesh Verma changed her residential address frequently to avoid victims and eventually moved to Dubai.
The case was registered after receiving complaints from a Joginder Kumar and others. The defendant was revealed to be the sole owner of the Pluto Exchange. The defendant was arrested after detailed questioning.
The accused in three days of police preventive detention. He was also previously arrested in a gold smuggling case by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in December 2017.
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