He helped police crack cyber frauds, turned blackmailer

Ghaziabad: After a year of investigation, police are preparing to file a chargesheet in a case in which a former forensic analyst helping cops crack cybercrime cases allegedly extorted Rs 3 lakh from a businessman who had lodged a complaint of laptop hacking.
A case has also been registered against a police constable as part of a larger conspiracy to blackmail the victim.
Police said they were currently reviewing the chargesheet as more findings had emerged during the course of investigation recently. In Jan 2023, the victim — who runs an import-export business — lodged a complaint with police’s cybercrime cell that his laptop had been hacked.
Karan Bhardwaj, a private forensic analyst working with police, was sent to the businessman’s house to inspect the device. He allegedly took the laptop away on the pretext of inspection and allegedly stole sensitive data related to his company. Then, the blackmailing began.
In March last year, a former employee of the businessman’s company — believed to be part of the gang — accused him of rape. “She filed a fake rape complaint with Delhi Police, which transferred the case to Kaushambi police station. How can this be true? I was in Thailand when she levelled the allegation. I have documents to prove it,” the victim said. The businessman claimed he was arrested despite showing his passport to cops.
“When I was in jail, Karan Bhardwaj started harassing my wife and asked for money. He threatened to circulate copies of the fake rape complaint against me among my friends and relatives. On March 23 last year, Karan and his father Anil Bhardwaj met my wife at Mahagun Mall in Indirapuram and showed some of his pictures with cops to prove he had contacts. My wife gave him Rs 1 lakh in cash and transferred Rs 2 lakh online,” he said.
The victim came out on bail on June 22, 2023. Two months later, he met police commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra and narrated his ordeal, following which two FIRs were registered. The first FIR was registered under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and relevant sections of the IT Act against the woman who lodged the rape complaint, police constable Deepak Vaishla and an unknown person. A member of the cyber cell then, Vaishla had allegedly pursued the woman to file the complaint against the businessman.
Another FIR was lodged against Karan and his father Anil under sections 384 (extortion) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of IPC.