Social Media Influencer Bobby Kataria, His Associate Chargesheeted In Human Trafficking Case

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday chargesheeted two accused including social media influencer Bobby Kataria, in an organised human trafficking case involving Chinese companies based in the Golden Triangle SEZ in Laos. As per the chargesheet filed by the NIA before the Special NIA Court in Panchkula, stated that while the accused Balwant alias Bobby Kataria, has been arrested, his associate Ankit Shokeen, who is currently based in Laos, is absconding.

The NIA investigations have revealed that both the accused, along with others, were involved in recruiting and transporting innocent jobseekers using deception and false inducements. The victims were lured and were being handed over to Chinese companies in Laos, where they were forced to carry out cyber frauds and scams under harsh, strenuous and restrictive conditions.

The Chinese companies used to confiscate the passports of the victims and they were also subjected to physical and mental torture in the event of non-performance or refusal to carry out cyber frauds, investigations have revealed.

The conspiracy was hatched by Bobby Kataria along with co-accused Ankit Shokeen and others. Together, they had incorporated MBK Global Visa Private Limited, a visa consultancy, and by taking advantage of his popularity among youth, Bobby was attracting job-seeking youth with lucrative job offers in countries like Singapore. After taking advance payments, he would persuade the victims to go to Laos.  
            
Many of the victims were eventually rescued from the scammers’ clutches by the joint efforts of the Indian Embassy in Laos and local law enforcement.

The investigations in the case are underway. The NIA is probing the case to identify the other accused involved in the racket and demolish the entire syndicate.