German Citizen Arrested for Rs 60 Lakh Citizenship Scam
Patiala House Court extends police custody of Poonam Jezler, accused of cheating a man of Rs 60 lakh promising German citizenship.
A Delhi court has extended the police custody of Poonam Jezler, a German citizen of Indian origin, who stands accused of defrauding a man of Rs 60 lakh. Jezler, who allegedly promised to secure German citizenship for the victim, was apprehended at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on October 13 following a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued by the authorities.
The Alleged Fraud
The case stems from an FIR registered at the Vasant Kunj police station. According to the investigation, Poonam Jezler, acting in a criminal conspiracy with several associates, fraudulently convinced a man named Pranzal Kumar to transfer Rs 60,00,000 into her bank accounts. The lure was a promise that she could arrange permanent residency or German citizenship for him within a span of six months.
To add a layer of legitimacy to the scam, the police allege that a person named Rajat Arora was represented as an officer of the German Embassy, further misleading the complainant into believing the process was official.
Court Extends Custody
On Friday, Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Animesh Kumar extended Jezler's police custody until October 18. The decision came after the Investigating Officer (IO) argued that further custodial interrogation was essential to crack the case wide open.
The police have highlighted several critical areas that require deeper investigation:
- The Money Trail: Authorities need to trace the complete flow of the Rs 60 lakh, including how it was received, transferred, withdrawn, and ultimately spent.
- Swiss Connection: The IO is investigating the circumstances surrounding an invoice issued in the name of "ZU-AG," a Swiss entity, to determine Jezler's role in handling those funds.
- Identifying Accomplices: Police aim to identify other individuals who may have received or benefited from the cheated amount and establish their specific roles in the conspiracy.
- Verification of Claims: Investigators are checking if any genuine application for immigration or citizenship was ever filed on behalf of Pranzal Kumar to prove the fraudulent nature of the claims.
Background of the Accused
Poonam Jezler reportedly resides in Switzerland with her husband. During the legal proceedings, it was mentioned in a bail application that her late father had served as the Law Secretary of Madhya Pradesh. However, this bail application was withdrawn on October 14.
The complainant, Pranzal Kumar, was represented in court by advocates Gagan Bhatnagar, Himanshu Rana, and Shashwat as the police continue their probe into the international dimensions of this cheating case.