LUCKNOW, June 7 -- A chartered accountant (CA) was conned out of Rs 1.93 crore that he thought he'd invested in cryptocurrency, in Lucknow, police said. CA Shalabh Pandey from Gomti Nagar's Vijayant Khand told police that he was baited by a woman who approached him on Facebook and identified herself as Bhavika Shetty. Cyber crime police station house officer Brijesh Yadav said an FIR had been registered under sections 318 (4) and 319(2), which deal with cheating, and 66D of the IT Act. He added the bank accounts involved in the transactions were being investigated. According to the complainant, the woman first approached him claiming that she was planning to open a school and an old-age home in Kolkata, for which she needed financial and tax consultancy. "Over time, the conversation shifted to cryptocurrency investments, and Bhavika portrayed herself as an expert in the field," said the complainan. The SHO said the CA initially 'invested' Rs.50,000 via a WhatsApp-based portal named X-MEX. "Soon, the online portfolio linked to the portal began showing profits and bonuses. Encouraged by the gains, he transferred a total of Rs.1.92 crore in multiple transactions to 11 different bank accounts," the SHO added. Pandey grew suspicious when Shetyy claimed that $49,000 or Rs.53.82 lakh was required to be paid as taxes due to US regulations and geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. When he refused, the entire online portfolio vanished. htc...