ED searches 3 Hyderabad premises in Rs 26 crore Telegram investment fraud case
The ED's Kochi office searched three premises in Hyderabad on 28 October 2026 in a case where, it alleges, an investor was cheated of Rs 26.02 crore through a fake trading website.
Key points
- The ED's Kochi zonal office searched three premises in Hyderabad on 28 October 2026 under the PMLA in a cyber fraud case from Ernakulam.
- The ED alleges one investor was cheated of about Rs 26.02 crore between 23 May 2023 and 27 May 2024 through a trading website.
- The ED seized Rs 6.40 lakh in cash and froze 11 bank accounts holding Rs 14 lakh; further investigation is in progress.
The Enforcement Directorate's (ED) Kochi zonal office searched three premises in Hyderabad on 28 October 2026 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a cyber fraud case registered in Ernakulam. The ED alleges that one investor was cheated of about Rs 26.02 crore after being lured into trading through a website.
What Happened
The ED's case is based on an FIR registered by the Cyber Police Station, Ernakulam. According to the FIR, the complainant was approached through phone calls and chat messages on the Telegram app and promised high returns from trading through the website www.capitalix.com. The FIR alleges the complainant was deceived into transferring Rs 24,76,21,042 in instalments to bank accounts controlled by the accused, who returned neither the promised profits nor the principal.
The ED said its investigation found the complainant was cheated of Rs 26,02,89,261.57 between 23 May 2023 and 27 May 2024. According to the ED, the money was moved through mule accounts operated by the accused and layered to hide its source. The agency alleges that the main accused set up several entities in the names of family members and employees, including BTR Industries, Velugu Trading Company, Aasritha Mega Solutions Pvt Ltd, Aasritha Infra Projects and Aasritha Infra Projects Pvt Ltd, through which funds were layered, and that a villa project in Hyderabad was launched in the name of the Aasritha Infra Projects entities.
During the searches, the ED said it seized documents, digital evidence and Rs 6.40 lakh in cash, froze 11 bank accounts with a balance of Rs 14 lakh, and identified plots and villas valued at about Rs 5 crore. These are allegations, not findings of guilt; the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court, and due process continues.
What It Means
The case shows a common pattern: contact through Telegram, a promise of high returns, and a trading website that pays nothing back. Before investing, check whether the platform and the person are registered with SEBI. Online investment fraud can be reported at https://cybercrime.gov.in or on helpline 1930. The ED says further investigation is in progress.
This report describes enforcement actions and allegations on the public record, attributed to the officials cited. An order, FIR or chargesheet is not a conviction; parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Sources & Citations
- Enforcement Directorate press release — Enforcement Directorate