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A fraud that began with ‘Hi Simran’ cost YEIDA senior manager Rs 1.24 crore

“From February 1 to November 11, I transferred Rs 1,24,44,339.76 in different bank accounts,” Brajpal Singh told the police.

3 min readNoidaDec 3, 2025 07:19 AM IST

A fraud that began with ‘Hi Simran’ cost YEIDA senior manager Rs 1.24 crore

On Monday, the cyber crime department of Noida Police registered an FIR under sections 318(4) (cheating) and 319(2) (cheating by personation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and opened investigations.

It started with a casual ping, a seemingly innocuous WhatsApp message sent to a senior manager of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA).

It ended with the 56-year-old YEIDA official losing Rs 1.24 crore, which he gave to someone he believed was Divya Sharma, a woman entrepreneur who lived in Juhu in suburban Mumbai.

Brajpal Singh, the YEIDA official, told police in his complaint that he had been contacted in the beginning of January from a number he did not recognise. “Hi Simran,” read the message.

Singh chose to respond – asking the sender who they were. The response – an apology for the ‘mistake’ – came quickly. A few polite exchanges followed about the apparent mix-up over their numbers.

“About a year ago, I received a message on my WhatsApp No. that read, Hi Simran, so I responded asking her who she was. She replied that she was sending the message to her friend and it was sent to me by mistake, to which I replied that it was not a problem,” Singh told the police.

But the exchanges did not stop here.

Singh and the person on the other side exchanged several messages, mostly about each other’s work. ‘She’ informed him that her name was Divya Sharma, and she was the owner of a company called Zillion Exports, and was based in Mumbai. On January 28, ‘Divya’ asked Singh how much he earned.

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“I replied, ‘The same amount that a government official earns. I first asked her why she was asking, to which she replied that she could help me earn extra money and asked me to invest in a website called ‘Golden Bridge Investment’,” Singh said in his complaint to police.

That same day, guided by ‘Divya’, Singh transferred Rs 40,000 as his first ‘investment’. According to Singh’s complaint, he started to trust ‘Divya’ after he saw a ‘return’ of Rs 23 lakh on an ‘investment’ that ‘she’ had made.

“From February 1 to November 11, I transferred Rs 1,24,44,339.76 in different bank accounts,” Singh told the police.

He said that he had tried to withdraw the money in April, which, according to the website, had grown to Rs 2.24 crore by then. However, he was informed by “customer service” that he could make the withdrawal only after he paid a tax of 30% on his gains. So Singh put in some more money as he was directed.

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And then, according to his complaint, “Divya” abruptly stopped messaging him. He repeatedly asked for his money, but failed to get any.

Neetika Jha

Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations. Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities: 1. Environment & Public Safety "Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans. "Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people. "At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital. "Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents. 2. Crime & Legal Developments "'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused. "After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement. "Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida. 3. Human Interest & Features "'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter. "How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city. Signature Style Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read More

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