In a significant development, popular social media influencer and former Bigg Boss Malayalam contestant, Muhammad Diligent, widely known as Blesslee, has been taken into custody in connection with a major online financial fraud case. The arrest took place on Tuesday, December 16, at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
The Airport Arrest and Look-Out Notice
Blesslee was apprehended based on a look-out circular issued against him by the Kozhikode Police. Authorities had received specific intelligence indicating that the influencer was attempting to flee the state, which led to his detention at the airport. Following his arrest, he was presented before a magistrate and remanded to formal police custody.
Details of the Sophisticated Online Fraud
According to the Kozhikode Crime Branch, which has been investigating the case for several months, Blesslee is alleged to be the mastermind behind a well-organized online scam. The modus operandi involved deceiving victims by promising lucrative job opportunities and other schemes.
Victims were persuaded to deposit large sums of money into various 'mule' bank accounts—accounts opened by others, often unknowingly, for illicit fund transfers. The investigation has uncovered evidence pointing to the substantial scale of these financial transactions.
Scale of the Scam and Crypto Link
The fraud is systematic and operates on a large scale, involving hundreds of bank accounts and several accomplices from different regions of Kerala. The illicit funds collected were allegedly converted into cryptocurrencies. This conversion facilitated the transfer of the money to various overseas accounts, including those linked to Chinese entities, making the trail harder to trace.
Police probes revealed that Blesslee and his network had been under surveillance for some time prior to the arrest. The case highlights the evolving nature of financial crimes, where digital platforms and cryptocurrencies are exploited to defraud people.
Blesslee's Public Profile and Fall from Grace
For the uninitiated, Blesslee rose to fame as the first runner-up in the fourth season of the popular reality show Bigg Boss Malayalam. After his stint on television, he maintained an active presence on social media, often promoting his business ventures and sharing video content with a substantial follower base. His arrest marks a dramatic fall from his celebrity status and sends a strong message about the legal repercussions of cybercrime.
The case continues to be under active investigation as the police work to identify all individuals involved and trace the full extent of the financial losses suffered by victims across the state.
