One person has been arrested by Maharashtra Cyber in connection with a Rs 4.97 lakh online share market investment fraud case, officials said on Tuesday.

The complaint was filed by 42-year-old Kalyan, who was allegedly induced to invest money through an online trading application after being approached through a social media advertisement and a WhatsApp group operating under the name “Breakthrough Communication”, according to the officials.

As per the complaint, the fraud took place between August 25 and September 23, when Kalyan came across a social media advertisement referring to Susquehanna International Group and subsequently joined a WhatsApp group.

“A person using the name ‘Shikha Sharma’ allegedly contacted the complainant, provided investment-related guidance, and encouraged him to invest in the share market through a trading application. Believing the representations to be genuine, the complainant transferred a total amount of 4.97 lakh into eight different bank accounts,” officials said.

After suspecting financial fraud, Kalyan reported the matter through the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 on September 27.

Subsequently, an FIR was registered at the Nodal Cyber Police Station, Maharashtra Cyber, under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), read with Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

Officials said that following this, Maharashtra Cyber initiated an investigation to trace the financial transactions and identify the persons involved in facilitating the fraud.

“During the investigation, the police examined the banking trail and the movement of the defrauded funds across multiple accounts. The investigation revealed that the money had moved through various bank accounts,” they added.

According to officials, further inquiry indicated that the funds received in an account belonging to Nikhil Kamble were allegedly withdrawn in cash and handed over to the arrested accused, Mohammed Ali Kapadia, through an intermediary arrangement.

Mohammed Ali Kapadia (23) appeared before the investigating officer on October 26. During questioning, his alleged role in receiving and disposing of cash linked to the fraudulent transactions came under investigation. He was subsequently arrested in connection with the case, officials said.

They added that the investigation further indicates that the accused may have acted in coordination with other persons to facilitate the withdrawal of money generated through cyber fraud.

The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday, decided to directly deposit Rs 5,000 into the bank accounts of each of the 1.5 crore farmers across 304 drought-affected talukas before Diwali. The advance will be distributed across the board to all farmers who have suffered crop losses exceeding 33 per cent.

In a move to mitigate severe agricultural distress across Maharashtra, CM Fadnavis, after the weekly cabinet meeting held on October 13, had announced that each affected farmer will receive Rs 5,000 directly into their bank accounts as advance aid prior to Diwali.

The government has finalised a list of 3.5 lakh farmers for the loan waiver scheme, with processing underway. In the Tuesday cabinet meeting, a formal approval was given to provide an advance of Rs 5,000 to drought-hit farmers before Diwali. This is part of the government’s proposed relief package, which will be announced after the assessment of the damage caused by the drought in 304 talukas.

According to the government sources, groundwater levels in Marathwada have plummeted by over three metres. Adequate water tankers will be deployed, equipped with GPS tracking to prevent mismanagement. Over 16,000 illegal water connections have already been disconnected. The government has already issued strict instructions to banks and microfinance institutions against forcefully collecting loan repayments or electricity bills. The government will directly purchase fodder and encourage fodder-crop cultivation among farmers to maintain livestock.

CM Fadnavis highlighted that historically, drought declarations and subsequent relief measures were pushed to November and December. However, recognising the severity of the current crisis, the state government accelerated administrative protocols to issue notifications in October itself. “We are well aware that this Diwali brings severe hardship for our farmers. Central government relief protocols involve procedures and timelines that cannot be finalised before Diwali. Understanding this urgency, the state cabinet decided to step in immediately, using state resources. The Rs 5,000 advance transfer will ensure our farmers have immediate liquidity in hand during the festive season,” he stated.

The Cabinet approved revisions to the Maharashtra Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy to streamline project screening, in-principle approvals, Request for Proposals (RFP), transaction structuring, tendering, and bidding stages.

Further, the state cabinet gave approval to extend the Matoshri Gramsamriddhi Sheti-Panand Road Scheme, which will continue through coordination with various programmes, including the Viksit Bharat – Gramin Road Initiative. The state-level scheme has been granted recognition as a district-level scheme, enabling funding through the District Planning Committee (DPC). A state-level committee has been authorised to resolve operational and field-level challenges for smooth execution.

The Cabinet approved allocating 1 per cent of the District Annual Plan (General) specifically for the welfare, rehabilitation, and empowerment of persons with disabilities across the state.

The Cabinet approved a revised administrative structure comprising 39,722 posts across five corporations and regional offices, along with office restructuring. The Cabinet gave clearance for the development of a national-level exhibition centre on the lines of New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam at Lohegaon, Pune. The modification of the reservation status for the playground plot in the Pune Municipal Corporation’s approved Development Plan at Lohegaon will facilitate rapid construction.

Further, the Cabinet approved Rs 66.82 crore for Bajaj Auto Limited under the Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Promotion Policy to boost local EV manufacturing. The Cabinet cleared the resumption of direct flights connecting Navi Mumbai – Chipi (Sindhudurg) and Chipi (Sindhudurg) – Navi Mumbai. It also approved 100 per cent Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to airline operators to revitalise air connectivity for the region.

The Cabinet approved the transfer of 289 hectares and 69 ares of land at Raver village to the Regional Officer, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Dhule, for industrial estate expansion.

The Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating whether two women, Babita and Radha, arrested in connection with the firing at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car, conducted reconnaissance in Mumbai’s Bandra Bandstand area, where several prominent film personalities, including actor Salman Khan, reside.

According to a Mumbai Crime Branch official, the investigation revealed that the two women visited the Bandra Bandstand area after arriving in Mumbai. Investigators are now examining the purpose of their visit and whether they conducted reconnaissance of the residences of film personalities in the locality.

The official said the information about the women’s movements emerged from an analysis of their mobile phones and other technical evidence. However, investigators are yet to establish whether the visit was connected to any potential plan targeting film personalities.

The Crime Branch is also examining the alleged links of the arrested women with Anil Pandit, who remains absconding in the case. According to the police, the two women were in contact with Pandit, and their remand was obtained to question them further about the information that has emerged during the investigation.

Police officials said evidence recovered from the mobile phones of the arrested women indicated that they were aware of the purpose of their visit to Mumbai.

The police are also investigating whether the accused, most of whom are suspected to be originally from Haryana, received assistance from a local person in Mumbai. Investigators suspect that a local contact may have helped the alleged gang members execute their plan and are searching for the person.

According to the Crime Branch, eight of the 11 accused arrested in the case were directly in contact with the alleged main accused, Anil Pandit. Investigators are trying to establish the individual roles of the accused and determine how the alleged network operated.

Earlier, the Mumbai Crime Branch, in coordination with Madhya Pradesh Police, detained a suspect in Indore for allegedly providing logistical and financial support to a network linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in connection with the October 18 firing incident.

Indore Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Dandotia confirmed the detention, stating that it was carried out during a joint operation by the Mumbai and Indore Crime Branch teams. The latest detention took the number of accused apprehended in the case to 11, according to reports.