Romance, resorts, and ₹2 crore: Delhi cop and partner take medical Leave, vanish on romantic getaway to tourist destinations

In a shocking case of betrayal within the force, a Delhi Police sub-inspector, entrusted with cracking down on cyber fraud, allegedly embezzled over ₹2 crore from seized accounts and fled with a fellow officer. Instead of returning the recovered money to the rightful victims, SI Ankur Malik hatched a scheme to siphon off the funds and used them to finance an extravagant getaway with SI Neha Punia, his batchmate and romantic partner. With the stolen money, they then vacationed in tourist hubs, like Goa, Manali and Kashmir.

Both officers, married to other individuals, were planning to abandon their current lives and start afresh under new identities — a plan that was ultimately foiled by Delhi Police investigators.

The Fraud: Fake Complainants and Court Orders

SI Ankur Malik, a 2021 batch officer posted at Cyber Thana in the North-East District, manipulated the system by getting a court to release seized money in the names of fake complainants. He then diverted the funds into bank accounts held by his acquaintances.


Following the diversion of the money, Malik applied for seven days of medical leave and never returned. Around the same time, Neha Punia, also from the 2021 batch and posted at GTB Enclave police station, went missing too. A missing person report was soon filed for both.

The Escape Plan and Arrest

The Delhi Police’s investigation revealed that the duo had been involved in a meticulously planned fraud operation. The two officers had become close during their police training and, according to officials, "the fraud was planned there itself."

After months of technical surveillance and on-ground intelligence gathering, police tracked Malik and Punia down to Indore, where they were arrested after four months on the run.

Recovered Items and Arrests

Authorities seized a substantial amount of assets from the couple, including:

• Gold worth over ₹1 crore
• ₹12 lakh in cash
• 11 mobile phones
• A laptop
• Three ATM cards
• Other incriminating items

The couple reportedly used the stolen funds to purchase gold, which could be “disposed of easily,” making the money harder to trace.

Additionally, three individuals — Mohammad Ilyas, Aafi alias Monu, and Shadab — have been arrested. These were the people whose bank accounts received the diverted funds.

The Motive and Lifestyle on the Run

According to police, "Ankur Malik knew that no one would claim the seized amount, so he got the money released from the court by submitting false documents and then eloped." With the stolen funds, the duo vacationed in Goa, Manali, and Kashmir, enjoying their time away from duty.

After reaching Indore, Malik reportedly purchased gold with the stolen money to evade financial tracking. "Later, after reaching Indore, he bought gold in exchange for cash so that tracking would be difficult. Their plan was to get fake IDs made and start a new life in the hilly areas of Madhya Pradesh," police added.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities interrogating both officers to uncover whether more individuals were involved in the high-profile fraud.