Three Zimbabwean nationals have been arrested in India following a high-level cyber fraud operation that tricked a senior pharmaceutical executive out of more than ₹1.1 crore (roughly US$127,000).
The accused — Tinashe Gadzikwa Praise (22), Malvern Matumgamire (25), and Nyamhunga Lenon Kudakwashe (23) — were detained in an early morning raid in Kharar, a town in Mohali, Punjab.
The arrests came as a result of a joint operation between Kolkata Police’s cyber crime division and Punjab police, following a complaint lodged in Kolkata in May.
According to reports from The Times of India, the trio allegedly impersonated representatives of a reputed UK-based pharmaceutical firm and the World Health Organization (WHO).
They presented a fraudulent international trade deal involving kola nuts, a tropical fruit with medicinal uses in treating disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Their target, 53-year-old Sandip Guha, a pharmaceutical executive based in New Town, Kolkata, was persuaded to invest in what was pitched as a lucrative kola nut export venture.
The suspects used fake documents, email correspondence, and UK-registered WhatsApp numbers to appear credible.
To build trust, they even sent sample shipments of kola nuts to Guha, helping to solidify the illusion of a legitimate business.
Investigators revealed that Guha, convinced by the samples and professional presentation, ended up transferring ₹1.10 crore through multiple RTGS payments to various Indian bank accounts.
Rupesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime & Traffic), confirmed that the suspects had been staying in a rented apartment in the Golf Link area of Mohali.
During the raid, police seized six mobile phones, a laptop, banking documents, and several forged papers linked to the operation.
Authorities believe the case may be part of a broader network of cyber scams. The three suspects are expected to be transported to Kolkata for further interrogation. Police also indicated that more arrests may follow as the investigation continues to uncover additional leads.
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