.png){kind=logo}
Celebrity hairstylist Jawed Habib and his son Anas face severe criminal action after police filed 23 FIRs alleging a Rs.100 crore crypto scam in western Uttar Pradesh. Authorities accused them of running a fraudulent investment operation that tricked over 400 victims with false promises of huge returns.
Police in Sambhal registered cases under IPC sections 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation). Investigators claim the accused leveraged Habib’s celebrity stature to gain trust and draw in investors.
The fraud first came to light during a 2023 promotional event in Sambhal. Jawed, Anas, and FLC leader Saifullah Khan pitched a scheme via their company, Follicle Global Company (FLC), promising returns of 50% - 75 % annually using Bitcoin and Binance Coin. Investors were told they would even receive monthly payments of Rs. 35,000 and full refunds plus interest in just three months.
Investors reportedly put in sums of Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh each, either in cash or via online transfers. Soon after, the operation collapsed, FLC shut down, and the accused could not be reached. When investors demanded refunds, they faced threats and delays.
Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar Bishnoi described the case as a “multi-layered fraud scheme involving fund diversion to other entities.” He said that FLC operated as a family enterprise. Habib’s wife appears to be the founder of this company. A lookout notice now bars the Habib family from leaving the country. Authorities are examining their bank accounts and assets.
Victim stories paint a bleak picture. Mohd Hilal, aged 22, said he invested Rs. 4.59 lakh. He paid Rs. 1.5 lakh online and the rest in cash, expecting monthly returns and capital back in months. When demands for return grew strong, the promoters vanished. Hilal’s funds had been earmarked for his sister’s wedding.
Meanwhile, the Habib family has denied involvement. Their lawyer asserts that Habib had no business relationship with FLC and only appeared as a chief guest at the Sambhal event.
Police have counted at least 38 confirmed victims so far. Should the accused fail to refund the money, their properties might be seized under Indian law.
The case has already become one of the most visible fraud incidents tied to a celebrity in recent financial crime history. Investigation is ongoing, and much of the accused’s financial web remains under scrutiny.
Also Read – Taiwan’s Biggest Crypto Scam: $72M Crypto Fraud Shocks 1,500 Victims, 14 Arrested
