The Delhi Police have summoned Rhea Chakraborty, Elvish Yadav, Bharti Singh, and numerous famous social media influencers in connection with the HiBox mobile app scam. The scandal scammed over 30,000 investors out of around ₹500 crore. Numerous complaints sparked the investigation, saying the program offered unreasonable promises of daily returns ranging from 1% to 5%, equivalent to monthly returns of 30% to 90%.
- Launch Date: The HiBox app was launched in February 2024.
- Operation: Initially, the app disbursed returns until June 2024 but then suspended payments, citing various technical and legal challenges.
- Complaints: Over 500 complaints have been lodged with the police, indicating a widespread impact on investors who were drawn in by promotions from popular influencers.
Key Individuals Summoned
- Rhea Chakraborty: The actress is being scrutinized for her promotional involvement with the app.
- Bharti Singh and Harsh Limbachiya: The comedian and her husband have also been called in for questioning.
- Elvish Yadav: The popular YouTuber is among those requested to participate in the investigation.
- Additional figures include Abhishek Malhan (Fukra Insaan), Lakshay Choudhary, and Purav Jha. Authorities have arrested a Chennai resident, J Sivaram, as the primary orchestrator of the scam. Investigators are also examining whether payment platforms such as Easebuzz and PhonePe adhered to regulatory guidelines in facilitating transactions for the app. Investigators are delving into multiple firms linked to the scam for potential money laundering activities. So far, ₹18 crore has been recovered from various accounts associated with the fraud. This case underscores significant concerns regarding influencer accountability in promoting financial products and highlights India’s rapid rise in digital fraud.
