Instagram influencer Sandeepa Virk, who boasts over 1.2 million followers, has been arrested in a ₹40‑crore money laundering investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. She allegedly used her platform to promote hyboocare.com, a website that falsely claimed to sell FDA-approved beauty products, now exposed as a non-functional front for financial fraud.
Who is Sandeepa Virk?
Sandeepa Virk presented herself online as a certified cosmetologist, beauty entrepreneur, and actor. Through her Instagram presence, she promoted hyboocare.com, a website that claimed to sell FDA-approved skincare products. However, ED officials found that the site had no user registration, inactive contact numbers, a broken payment system, and almost no real product activity.
An FIR filed in Mohali accused her of cheating and criminal breach of trust under IPC Sections 406 and 420. The ED later arrested her on August 12 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. She is currently in ED custody until August 14.
How Is Sandeepa Virk Linked to ₹40 Crore Scam?
According to the ED, Virk is connected to Angarai Natarajan Sethuraman, a former director at Reliance Capital. Between 2018 and 2020, ₹40 crore in questionable loans were issued by Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd, including ₹18 crore without standard due diligence and a ₹22 crore home loan granted outside lending norms.
Investigators allege that a portion of these diverted funds was laundered through shell operations like hyboocare.com, with Virk allegedly facilitating the fraud. Sethuraman has denied the charges, insisting that the loans were legitimate and backed by proper collateral.
The arrest has triggered widespread discussion on how digital influence is sometimes used to mask illegal activity under the guise of entrepreneurship.
FAQ
Who is Sandeepa Virk?
She is a 1.2M-follower influencer arrested in a ₹40 crore laundering case linked to hyboocare.com.
What was hyboocare.com?
A fake website promoted by Virk claiming to sell FDA-approved beauty products.
Why was Sandeepa Virk arrested?
For allegedly helping launder ₹40 crore through a fraudulent business front.
What’s her connection to Reliance Capital?
She’s linked to ex-director Sethuraman, who allegedly diverted public funds.
Is Sandeepa Virk in jail now?
She is in ED custody till August 14 under the PMLA investigation.
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