Ex-Bureaucrat's Daughter Arrested for ₹60 Lakh German Citizenship Scam
Poonam Jezler, a German national of Indian origin, has been arrested for allegedly cheating a man of Rs 60 lakh under the pretext of arranging German citizenship.
In a high-profile arrest, the Delhi Police have apprehended Poonam Jezler, a German national of Indian origin, for her alleged involvement in a massive fraud. Jezler is accused of swindling a man out of ₹60 lakh by promising to facilitate German citizenship and permanent residency.
The arrest took place at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on October 13, following the issuance of a Look Out Circular (LOC) against her. Jezler, who claims to be the daughter of a former Law Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, is the president of the World Book of Records, Switzerland, and resides there with her Swiss husband.
The Deception and Criminal Conspiracy
The investigation stems from an FIR lodged at the Vasant Kunj police station. According to the investigating officer (IO), Jezler allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy with several associates to defraud the complainant, Pranzal Kumar.
The details of the scam include:
- The Promise: Jezler induced the victim to pay large sums under the false pretext of securing German citizenship and permanent residency.
- The Payment: A total of ₹60 lakh was transferred directly into two bank accounts belonging to the accused.
- The Setup: To add legitimacy to the scam, Jezler reportedly introduced the complainant to an individual named Rajat Arora, who was purportedly an official working at the German Embassy.
- The Result: Despite the massive transfer of funds, no citizenship or residency was ever provided, and the money was never returned.
Police Pursuit and International Links
The police revealed that tracking Jezler proved difficult due to her international status. As a German citizen residing in Switzerland, she was hard to locate. Earlier attempts to trace her led officers to Mumbai, where they sought her children, but the addresses provided were found to be incorrect. It was only after an LOC was issued and her bank accounts were frozen that the authorities were able to apprehend her.
The authorities have already notified the German Embassy, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), and the Ministry of External Affairs regarding her arrest.
Court Proceedings and Custody Demands
Poonam Jezler was produced before the Patiala House Court on Wednesday. Following a day in judicial custody, the Investigating Officer moved an application for her remand, citing the need for intensive interrogation.
The prosecution argued that police custody is essential to:
- Ascertain the complete money trail of the ₹60 lakh cheated from the victim.
- Identify co-accused individuals involved in the conspiracy.
- Verify if any official from the German Embassy was actually involved in the scam.
- Recover incriminating electronic materials, financial records, and original documents.
Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Animesh Kumar granted the police two days of custody, noting that it appears to be an undisputed fact that the accused received the ₹60 lakh in her bank accounts. The court emphasized that a detailed investigation is required to understand why the money was transferred and to determine the specific role of the accused in the conspiracy.
Notably, Jezler was a recipient of the Bharat Kirti Chakra in 2022. While a bail application was filed, it was withdrawn following arguments from the public prosecutor and the complainant's legal representatives.