Bella Ciao in Delhi: “Professor” and His Crew Run a ₹250 Crore Cyber Heist

Delhi Police have busted a cyber fraud ring that looked less like a crime operation and more like a Netflix casting call. Inspired by the hit show Money Heist, three young men calling themselves the “Professor,” “Amanda,” and “Denver” allegedly orchestrated one of India’s biggest online trading scams, duping hundreds of investors and funnelling nearly ₹250 crore through fake platforms and cryptocurrency channels.

Investigators say the group operated nationwide, creating layers of mule accounts, encrypted chats, and fake trading apps that promised fast profits and “exclusive market tips.” Victims were lured through WhatsApp and Telegram groups that mimicked legitimate investment communities. Once hooked, small profits were credited to gain trust. But when larger amounts were deposited, the accounts were frozen and investors were told to pay more to “unlock” their money.

The operation had all the elements of a digital heist. Arpit Mishra, 25, a law graduate from Jaipur, allegedly played the “Professor,” managing the syndicate’s backend finances and communication with handlers based in China. His partners, Prabhat Vajpayee, 22, from Ghaziabad, and Mohammad Abbas Khan, 24, from Imphal, acted as digital operatives, recruiting unsuspecting investors and arranging mule accounts.

Investigators found that the trio even organized their chats and code names around Money Heist themes. Their encrypted WhatsApp groups were named after the show’s episodes, and they used aliases from the series to hide their real identities. “They treated fraud like a high-stakes game,” said an officer involved in the probe.

The case began with a complaint from Rohit, a Delhi government employee who lost ₹21.77 lakh to the fake trading scheme. That single report led police to uncover an elaborate network spread across several states. Two suspects were arrested in Noida with 11 mobile phones, 17 SIM cards, and 32 debit cards, while the “Professor” was later caught in Siliguri, West Bengal.

Police say the gang’s digital trail links them to Chinese cybercrime syndicates operating similar scams across Asia. The investigation now spans multiple states and includes a review of bank transfers, cryptocurrency wallets, and possible hawala connections.