ED Attaches ₹21.71 Crore Assets Linked to ₹166 Crore Crypto Scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth ₹21.71 crore belonging to Chirag Tomar, his family, and associates in connection with a cryptocurrency scam involving the theft of USD 20 million (around ₹166 crore). The attached assets include nine properties located in Delhi, officials said on Wednesday.

According to the ED, the investigation began after a newspaper report revealed that Chirag Tomar, an Indian national, had been arrested in the United States for stealing more than USD 20 million through fake websites that mimicked the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase.

The agency said Tomar and his associates — identified as Rahul Anand, Akash Vaish, and Piyush Prashar — created spoofed websites that appeared identical to the legitimate Coinbase site, except for the contact details. When users entered their login credentials, they were shown an error message and prompted to contact a fake customer support number controlled by the fraudsters.

Once victims shared access information, Tomar and his team allegedly took over their cryptocurrency accounts and transferred the funds to digital wallets under their control. The stolen cryptocurrency was later sold on peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms and converted into Indian currency.

The ED said the proceeds were routed through multiple bank accounts belonging to Tomar, his family, and associates, and used to purchase properties. With the latest seizure, the total assets attached in the case have reached ₹64.15 crore.

Tomar was arrested by U.S. authorities in December 2023 while entering the country. The ED’s investigation into the money trail and related assets is ongoing.